Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Jose Soriano has struggled over his last 10 starts. Since May 4, 2026, he has allowed 53 hits and 32 walks across 52.1 innings of work. These statistics have resulted in him giving up 31 runs, accumulating an earned run average of 5.33.

These statistics stand in stark contrast to his first 7 starts. During those starts, he allowed 24 hits and 16 walks across 42.2 innings of work. Consequently, those numbers helped him allow 4 runs and post an earned run average of 0.84.

The statistical decline in Jose Soriano’s performance is related to a smaller adjustment by opposing hitters. Jose Soriano’s favorite pitch in 2026 has been the sinker. Over his first 17 starts of 2026, he has thrown 419 sinkers, 26.2% of his total pitches.

At the start of 2026, opponents had a tendency to swing earlier when he threw the singer. Over his first 7 starts, opponents swung early against the sinker 6% of the time, the 24th-highest rate in the league. 

Consequently, opponents ended up on top of the baseball when they made contact with the sinker. Over his first 7 starts, opponents were on top of the sinker 35% of the time, third highest in the league. When this happened, opponents tended to hit a pulled ground ball.

Over his first 7 starts, the sinker generated a pulled ground ball 43.6% of the time, second-highest in the league. Unfortunately, opponents have become more patient against the pitch. Opponents are swinging earlier than on pitch 2% of the time since May 4, the 77th-highest rate in the league. 

This decline has reduced the amount of time that our opponents are on top of the baseball. Opponents have only been on top of the baseball 28% of the time, a 7% decrease.

These factors have decreased the percentage of pulled ground balls. Since May 4, Jose Soriano has generated a pulled ground ball 28.6% of the time, the 36th-highest rate in the league. 

With greater patience, opponents have been able to keep their lower bodies in the strike zone longer. Consequently, opponents have seen an increase in ground balls straight up the middle. Jose Soriano has given up a ground ball straight up the middle 34.7% of the time since May 4. 

This is a 14.1% increase from his first eight starts, where he surrendered a ground ball straight up the middle 20.5% of the time. Opponents are hitting .412 against this type of ground ball since May 4.

The statistics indicate that there is a solution for the issue that Jose Soriano is encountering. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim need to put a defender behind the second base bag. This will decrease the number of hits straight up the middle. 

Unfortunately, the middle infield for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim has struggled defensively when positioned behind the second-base bag.

Second baseman Oswald Peraza has (-1) Outs Above Average while positioned near the second-base bag against right-handed hitters. The statistics put him as the 25th-best second baseman in these situations.

Shortstop Zach Neto is worse when standing near the second base bag. against left-handed hitters. He has an Outs Above Average of (-4) in these situations, the 27th-best shortstop. Consequently, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim do not have the roster in place to help Jose Soriano solve this issue.