Jose Soriano's 0.28 ERA Is Carrying the Angels, and Toronto Can't Stop Him

The Los Angeles Angels are desperate. They've lost four straight games, scored a pitiful six runs during the skid, and now they're staring down the finale of a series they're already losing to Toronto. But they've got their ace on the mound, and he's been nothing short of unstoppable.

Jose Soriano takes the ball Wednesday afternoon in Anaheim with a microscopic 0.28 ERA, the best in baseball. The 27-year-old right-hander is 5-0 to start the season, tied for the major league lead in wins with Milwaukee's Aaron Ashby. His WHIP sits at 0.73, second only to Chicago's Shota Imanaga. He's also leading the majors in opponents' batting average at .104. Through five starts, Soriano has allowed just 11 hits across 32 2/3 innings while striking out 39 batters.

A Career-Best Season After Years of Inconsistency

This isn't what we saw from Soriano last year. In 2025, he went 10-11 with a 4.26 ERA across 31 starts, sometimes flashing dominance but never sustaining it. Something has clicked this season. After his most recent outing, a two-hit gem over 5 2/3 innings against San Diego on Friday that resulted in an 8-0 win, Soriano opened up about the shift.

"I think mentally I'm stronger and physically too, I feel stronger," Soriano said. "I'm learning a lot from the past. I'm taking the good things and trying to use them right now. I think that's part of the good results I'm having now."

In that San Diego game, he struck out eight and walked four. It's the kind of dominant pitching the Angels desperately need right now.

The Blue Jays' Bullpen Nightmare

Toronto has won the first two games of this series, 5-2 on Monday and 4-2 on Tuesday, and they nearly blew the second one wide open. The Angels had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth on Tuesday, but Louie Varland induced Nolan Schanuel into a game-ending double play for his first career save. Varland had to come in because closer Jeff Hoffman gave up a single, hit two consecutive batters, and allowed an RBI single to Yoan Moncada before getting pulled.

Hoffman has been shaky all season. He's got a 7.59 ERA and is just 3-for-6 in save opportunities. The Toronto fanbase hasn't forgotten about Game 7 of the World Series last season either, when Miguel Rojas hit a tying homer off him with one out in the ninth. The Dodgers won 5-4 in 11 innings to take the championship. But Blue Jays manager John Schneider is standing by his closer.

"I know there may be people who don't want to hear this, but I've got a lot of trust and confidence in Jeff Hoffman," Schneider said after Tuesday's game. "If there's a situation to close out a game, I'll take Jeff Hoffman."

What's Next

Toronto counters with left-hander Eric Lauer, who's having a rough go of it. Lauer is 1-3 with a 7.13 ERA and has lost three straight starts, allowing 12 earned runs over 12 1/3 innings during that stretch. When Soriano's stuff is this sharp, the Angels have to find a way to win. Anything less and this losing streak gets even uglier.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.