Travis Bazzana Is Running Wild and the Angels Have No Way to Stop Him

The Cleveland Guardians are doing something the Los Angeles Angels absolutely cannot afford right now: they're manufacturing chaos on the basepaths. Travis Bazzana, the rookie second baseman who's been in the majors for all of 12 games, is tied for second on the team with seven stolen bases and playing like he was born for this moment. The Guardians hammered the Angels 7-2 on Monday night, and if Tuesday's matchup goes sideways for LA, we're watching the beginning of a serious problem.

Here's what should scare Angels fans: Bazzana is not just getting on base, he's dictating what happens once he's there. In Monday's win, the 23-year-old Australian delivered a crucial two-run double in the third inning to break the game open, then turned around and drew two walks for good measure. "I felt comfortable in the box from the get-go," Bazzana said after the game, "but I am really starting to get it going." When you listen to him talk about understanding "when it's a good time to run and when it's not," you're hearing the voice of a guy who's figured something out already. He's not just fast, he's smart about it.

The Guardians Left 10 Runners on Base and Still Won Big

Here's the thing about Monday's victory that actually matters: Cleveland left 10 runners stranded on the basepaths and went just 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Most teams don't survive that kind of offensive inefficiency. The Guardians? They won 7-2 anyway because they drew 10 walks and kept the pressure relentless. Bench coach Tony Arnerich, filling in for manager Stephen Vogt who's battling a viral infection for the second consecutive game, made it clear the team knows they can't keep leaving that kind of production on the field. "The guys want to get it done, obviously, they're trying," Arnerich said. "It's about having conversations about where their headspace was at and what their approach was in an at-bat."

The math here is brutal for the Angels. The Guardians are finding ways to win even when their hitters aren't clicking perfectly. Imagine what happens when both the baserunning and the hitting click simultaneously.

Urena Gets His Chance Against a New Foe

The Angels are turning to right-hander Walbert Urena (1-3, 3.22 ERA) on Tuesday, and there's actually a compelling story here. Urena just earned his first career win in his most recent outing, tossing a gem against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday where he allowed two hits and one run over six innings while walking three and striking out five. The Angels won that game 8-2. "Being a reliever was new for me at that point," Urena said, reflecting on his path to the majors. "Being a starter is really better for me because that's what I've done all my career. And now I'm getting my chance to do it."

This will be Urena's first career start against the Guardians, which cuts both ways. There's no scouting history to lean on, but there's also no tape of him shutting Cleveland down.

The Guardians counter with Slade Cecconi (2-4, 6.15), who just beat the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, giving up two runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in an 8-5 win. But here's where it gets interesting: Cecconi has been absolutely shelled by the Angels in his career, going 0-1 with a 14.73 ERA in two starts against them. Los Angeles hit him for seven runs on 10 hits in three-plus innings back in 2024, then came back and scored five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in 2025. Angels manager Kurt Suzuki is hoping for better command after Monday's walk-fest. "It's going to be hard to win a game when you allow that many walks," Suzuki said.

The Trends Tell You Everything

The

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