Alek Manoah’s attempt at a fresh start with the Los Angeles Angels is quickly unraveling—and his latest outing may have been the clearest sign yet that his grip on a roster spot is slipping.
Mar 17, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Alek Manoah reacts after being pulled against the Chicago Cubs during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Once viewed as a potential bounce-back candidate, the 28-year-old right-hander is now fighting to simply stay in the conversation for a role in the Angels’ rotation.
And time is running out.
Manoah actually opened his most recent spring start on a positive note, working around an early double and finishing the first inning with a strikeout. But what followed was another troubling collapse.
In the second inning, the Cubs squared him up repeatedly. Michael Conforto set the tone with a hard-hit double, and moments later, Carson Kelly launched a home run off a hanging slider. Just three pitches after that, Moisés Ballesteros crushed another ball deep to center, exposing Manoah’s inability to locate effectively.
Things didn’t stabilize from there.
Even after briefly settling down, Manoah continued to struggle with command and hard contact. He issued multiple walks, allowed another home run to Ballesteros in the third inning, and ultimately finished with a rough line: four innings, eight hits, four walks, seven earned runs, and three home runs allowed.
While he did manage five strikeouts, the outing highlighted the same issues that have plagued him all spring.
Control remains a major concern.
Across 15 innings in Cactus League play, Manoah has walked 14 batters—a number that underscores just how inconsistent he’s been in the zone. When he does throw strikes, hitters are making him pay with loud contact.
That combination has put his roster status in serious jeopardy.
When the Angels signed Manoah to a one-year, $1.95 million deal this offseason, the expectation was that he could slot in as a back-end starter. On paper, he had the pedigree and upside to make that work.
But performance has told a different story.
With Opening Day approaching, the Angels have other options emerging. Prospects like Ryan Johnson and George Klassen are waiting in the wings, and both offer more upside—and potentially more reliability—at this point.
That leaves Manoah in a precarious position.
His velocity hasn’t disappeared, and the strikeout numbers suggest there’s still something there. But the lack of command and continued hard contact are difficult to overlook, especially for a team trying to remain competitive.
For Blue Jays fans watching from afar, any lingering doubts about Toronto’s decision to move on from Manoah may be fading.
For the Angels, the decision is still ahead—but it’s becoming clearer by the day.
Unless something changes quickly, Manoah’s opportunity in Los Angeles may be running out almost as soon as it began.
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