Angels News: Ron Washington Considers Shifting Canning's Role After Opener Experiment

Griffin Canning's recent performance has prompted Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington to reconsider the team's approach to his pitching role.

After a solid six-inning outing in a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, Canning is set to start again against the Detroit Tigers, but this time without the opener strategy that had been used previously.

Canning expressed dissatisfaction with the opener arrangement, and Washington acknowledged his desire to see Canning pitch from the start.

The manager believes Canning has the potential to prove that his earlier struggles were not indicative of his true abilities.

“He’s been starting for us all year, and we decided to go with that opener, and he wasn’t happy with it,” Washington said . “He came in and gave us six solid innings, and I thought he earned to get the ball and show us that there was never any problem with that. And so he’s on the line.

"He’s on the line. I feel like he needs to get the ball from the first inning on and prove to us that it was a fluke that (he pitched better after an opener)."

In his latest start against the Tigers, Canning began strong but allowed three runs over the next two innings, ultimately contributing to a narrow 3-2 loss. This performance raises questions about whether he will retain a starting role in future games.

Despite the team's ongoing struggles, including a seven-game losing streak, Washington is focused on fostering accountability and a positive mindset within the squad.

He emphasized the importance of presence and effort, which he believes can lead to improved performance.

“I thought Canning did a good job of fighting,” Washington told Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group . “He gave up those three runs in the second and third. He did a good job to get us through five. And if he could have just been giving up three runs all year, I’d have taken that.”

Canning has logged a career-high 144 innings this season, with a record of 4-12 and a 5.19 ERA across 27 games. The Angels are hoping for more consistency from him as they navigate the remainder of the season.