Jose Soriano Went From AL Pitcher of the Month To Walking 15 Hitters In May, And Now What?

Alright, Emerald City, can we talk about Jose Soriano for a sec? Remember March/April? Dude was lights out, an absolute wizard on the mound, snagging AL Pitcher of the Month. We're talking a ridiculous 5-1 start, a tiny 0.84 ERA, and he fanned 49 batters over 42 2/3 innings. Talk about buzz! Everyone was whispering "Cy Young" for crying out loud. But then May happened. And, well, let's just say it was NOT good.

What Happened to the AL Pitcher of the Month?

Seriously, what in the world happened to Soriano? May hit, and it was like he forgot how to pitch. His record flipped to a rough 1-3 for the month, and that sparkling ERA ballooned to 5.34. FIFTEEN walks in just 28 2/3 innings? That's not the same guy we saw dominate. He's set to face Colorado for the first time in his career, though he did toss two innings of relief in 2023, giving up one unearned run. Can he get back to that early-season form?

Freeland's May Nightmare and a Glimmer of Hope

Colorado's Kyle Freeland probably wants to burn all his May stats. His lone victory was April 7, a 5-1 win against Houston. But May? A disaster. He posted an eye-popping 12.46 ERA, taking losses in four of his five starts. Freeland was shelled for 30 earned runs on 42 hits, including TEN home runs, in a measly 21 2/3 innings. His last outing against the Dodgers was brutal: eight earned runs on nine hits, three of them homers, in just four innings during a 15-6 loss. Ouch. But here's the twist: Freeland historically owns the Angels. He's 3-0 with a 2.40 ERA in five career starts against them, including 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA at Anaheim Stadium. Maybe this matchup is what he needs to shake off that brutal May.

Team Trouble Brews for Both Sides

Both teams are reeling. Colorado just got hammered, losing 19-6 at home to the Giants. They coughed up 25 hits, including 13 extra-base hits, with Willy Adames mashing a grand slam, one of three homers allowed. Manager Warren Schaeffer said, "It was just a bad game. You have those every now and then. You take winning the series." That loss denied them a chance to climb out of last place and a sweep of the Giants, something they haven't done since 2018. The Angels aren't exactly on fire, coming off a 3-3 road trip that ended with a 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay. Logan O'Hoppe blasted his first homer since April 15 and doubled. The real locker room talk, though, was Jose Siri's insane highlight-reel catch, reaching over the fence to rob a grand slam. His old Rays teammates were even pumped, calling it a "tremendous play." So, with both pitchers and teams looking for a fresh start, that Monday night game in Anaheim is gonna be interesting. Will Soriano find his groove again? Can Freeland somehow tap into his past Angels dominance? We'll see how it shakes out. Meanwhile, back here in the best damn city, our Mariners just snagged a tight 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at T-Mobile Park! Every win counts, fam. Let's keep that momentum rolling!

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