Angels' Reid Detmers Concludes His 2026 Campaign in a Great Way

Reid Detmers' breakout in 2026 solidified him as a building block for the Angels' starting rotation.

by Andrew Jamieson

Sep 26, 2026

Reid Detmers (48) of the Los Angeles Angels

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Not much has gone right for the Los Angeles Angels in 2026.

Entering Saturday, the Angels own an American League-worst 62-98 record. Los Angeles will miss the playoffs for the 12th consecutive year and is also in danger of suffering its first 100-loss season in franchise history.

Despite the disappointing campaign, the Angels have seen an excellent breakout season from starting pitcher Reid Detmers, which he capped with a stellar finish on Friday.

Against the Seattle Mariners, the 27-year-old pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out seven in Los Angeles’ 7-5 win.

Detmers’ dominant outing put the finishing touches on what was a breakout season for the southpaw.

Over 32 starts, he went 7-8 with a career-best 3.36 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 185 innings. Detmers also recorded 211 strikeouts against 48 walks and held opposing hitters to a career-low .213 batting average.

Those impressive numbers make it hard to remember that Detmers worked exclusively as a reliever in 2025, trying to salvage his career after struggling as a starter.

Over 17 starts in 2024, he struggled mightily, posting a 6.70 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 87.1 innings. Detmers’ struggles led to an option to Triple-A Salt Lake in June that year before he was called up again in September.

His move to the bullpen the following season provided a much-needed reset. Detmers’ 3.96 ERA over 61 appearances and 63.2 innings in 2025 offered optimism that he could carry that success back into the rotation.

Fast-forward a year, and Detmers has done just that, especially in the second half, where he has emerged as one of baseball’s best starting pitchers after the All-Star break.

In 13 starts following the Midsummer Classic, Detmers went 4-2 with a microscopic 1.89 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over 76.1 innings. His ERA ranks fourth in MLB, while his WHIP ties for sixth among qualified starters over that span. Detmers’ command has also been elite in the second half, with 88 strikeouts against just 13 walks.

Detmers was a notable trade candidate at this summer’s MLB trade deadline, with numerous rumors swirling around him. Yet the Angels held on to him, and that decision has paid off, with Detmers emerging as an anchor in Los Angeles’ starting rotation.

He is not the only young starter giving the Angels reason to be optimistic. Walbert Ureña has impressed with a 2.97 ERA over 148.1 innings in his rookie season, giving Los Angeles an exciting young 1-2 punch alongside Detmers.

Still, trade rumors surrounding Detmers are widely expected to resurface this offseason. The left-hander remains under club control through the 2028 season.

For a Los Angeles squad seeking a fresh start under new leadership, an ace is a must-have to build around. Detmers has proven himself to be just that in 2026, solidifying himself as a key building block for the organization.