The Los Angeles Angels are reportedly facing a potential crisis after being forced to place veteran slugger Jorge Soler on the 10-day injured list Saturday, just hours before a brutal 9-2 beatdown at the hands of the crosstown rival Dodgers. Insiders close to the team claim the move — made retroactive to June 4 — could signal deeper trouble for a franchise already struggling to stay afloat in a hyper-competitive division.
Soler, 34, has allegedly been battling what sources initially described as a left groin issue, later reclassified as hip irritation and left-side tightness. But according to team insiders, the real story might be more concerning: the injury reportedly worsened over two weeks, with Soler visibly grimacing during Wednesday’s game against Colorado before exiting in the fifth inning. Friday, he was scratched moments before first pitch against the Dodgers — a move that one unnamed clubhouse source called “a red flag” for the team’s medical staff.
“He tried to play through it, but everyone could see something wasn’t right,” the source told us. “There’s some worry this could linger longer than they’re letting on.”
In 58 games this season, Soler posted a lackluster .220 average with nine homers and a .702 OPS. While those numbers hardly scream irreplaceable, his absence leaves a gaping hole in the designated hitter slot — a role manager Kurt Suzuki has already begun rotating, with Nick Madrigal getting the start Saturday. But fans and analysts are buzzing: is this really a sustainable plan for a team that can’t afford to lose any offensive firepower?
Angels Get One Back, But the Damage Is Done
The Soler news came on the same day the Angels welcomed first baseman Nolan Schanuel back from his own IL stint — but even that return felt muted. Schanuel missed 11 games due to left ankle tendinitis, originally suffered on April 4 during a routine base-running play and aggravated during a Detroit road trip. After a rehab appearance with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (1-for-4 with a double), he was thrown right into the fire Saturday — where he went 0-for-3 as the Angels managed just three hits total.
“We needed him back, no question,” one scout said. “But expecting him to be the savior is asking a lot.”
Roster Shuffle Raises Eyebrows
In a flurry of additional moves, Los Angeles also placed outfielder Gustavo Campero on the injured list with a fractured right hand and designated catcher Omar Martinez for assignment after he went 1-for-3 during a brief major-league cameo. The clubhouse is reportedly buzzing with uncertainty as the Angels try to patch together a lineup that can compete without their veteran DH — and with the Dodgers looming large in the rearview mirror.
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