Taylor Ward
YEARTEAMGABRHitsRBIDTHRBBSOSBCSEAVGOBPSLUG
2021Antiques75292206220194015985010.2120.2510.305
2022Cougars2281111494035210000.1730.2210.333
2023Cougars68261274618100631814010.1760.2640.284
2024Cougars1654911122069160000.2040.3380.574
2025Cougars2694822176146243000.2340.2800.447
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 29 2025Ward went 3-for-5 with three doubles, one RBI and one run scored in Sunday's 7-4 extra-innings loss to the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward logged his first multi-hit effort since June 14 in Baltimore. While he hasn't been racking up hits much, over his last eight games he has one home run, seven doubles and a 7:10 BB:K to remain a consistent presence on the bases. The outfielder is up to a .216/.287/.481 slash line with 20 homers, 20 doubles, 57 RBI, 47 runs scored and one stolen base over 81 contests. Ward and Pete Crow-Armstrong are the only players to have 20 homers and 20 doubles this season though Sunday's action.
Jun 27 2025Ward went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 15-9 loss to the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward hasn't logged a multi-hit effort since June 14 in Baltimore. Over his last 12 games, he's gone 8-for-44 (.182) with five extra-base hits and eight RBI. The outfielder is still one of 12 players to reach the 20-homer mark through Friday's action, and with this game being the midpoint of the Angels' season, he's on pace to push for 40 homers, which would smash his career high of 25 from last season. He's batting just .208 but has a .465 slugging percentage while adding 55 RBI, 44 runs scored, 16 doubles, one triple and a stolen base over 79 contests in a near-everyday role in left field.
Jun 20 2025Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run against the Yankees in Thursday's 7-3 loss. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward brought the Angels to within a run with his 381-foot solo blast in the sixth inning, but that ended up being the final time Los Angeles scored in the game. Though Ward is hitting just .209 on the campaign, he's provided plenty of production with 19 homers and 50 RBI through 307 plate appearances. The veteran outfielder is well on pace to exceed his career-high marks of 25 home runs and 75 RBI, both of which he established last season.
Jun 14 2025Ward went 3-for-4 with a double, a RBI and a walk during Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward broke out of a brief slump with a big day at the plate Saturday, his first multi-hit game since May 22. Before Saturday, the 31-year-old was batting .141 (9-for-64) since then, but this could help get him back on track. The next streak to break for the outfielder will be his strikeout streak, now up to ten games after picking up another one Saturday.
Jun 13 2025Ward is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward will get a rare night off Friday, missing out on the starting nine for the first time since April 30. The left-fielder hasn't had a multi-hit game since May 22 and is batting 9-for-63 with four homers and a 32 percent K rate over 18 games during that stretch. LaMonte Wade, Jo Adell and Jorge Soler will fill the outfield from left to right.
Jun 8 2025Ward went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run during Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Angels mustered up merely two hits during Sunday's contest, and Ward provided both of the team's runs with his two-run blast in the fourth inning. The long ball was Ward's third in his last eight games. Ward hasn't had a multi-hit outing since May 22, and he's hitting 9-for-54 (.167) with a 31.7 percent strikeout rate since.
Jun 4 2025Ward went 1-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Wednesday's 11-9 loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old continues to supply plenty of power, but little else for the Angels. Ward put a Lucas Giolito changeup over the Green Monster in the first inning for a three-run shot, but he's gone 12 straight games without a multi-hit performance, batting just .163 (7-for-43) over that stretch. On the season, Ward sports a lopsided .213/.266/.478 slash line with 17 homers and 42 RBI in 60 contests.
Jun 1 2025Ward went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a loss to the Guardians on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward built upon an early Angels lead with a blast to center field in the second inning. The long ball gave the 31-year-old 10 homers across 28 contests in the month of May after he went deep six times over 28 games to begin the campaign. Ward is up to 38 RBI in 2025, more than halfway to the career-high mark of 75 he set last season.
May 23 2025Ward went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a second RBI, a walk and two total runs scored in Friday's 7-4 win over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward's hitting streak is up to nine games (15-for-36), and that includes six homers, 11 extra-base hits and 15 RBI. It's an impressive power surge for any player, but this has been a big bounce back in May for Ward after his slump in late April leaked into early May. For the year, he's up to 15 homers, 36 RBI, 30 runs scored, 10 doubles, one triple and no stolen bases through 49 contests. While he's batting just .228, he's posted a .799 OPS and continues to make a big impact with power.
May 22 2025Ward went 3-for-4 with a grand slam, five total RBI and an additional run scored in Thursday's 10-5 win over the A's. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward got the Angels on the board with an RBI single in the fourth inning before launching a 426-foot, go-ahead grand slam off Grant Holman in the seventh. Ward has certainly turned things around after a slow start to the season -- he's gone 18-for-47 (.383) with six homers and 18 RBI in his last 11 games. Ward's boosted his slash line to .225/.272/.508 with 14 homers, 34 RBI and 28 runs scored through 206 plate appearances this year.
May 20 2025Ward went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 4-3 win over the Athletics on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward's long ball was a two-run shot in the third inning that broke a 2-2 tie. The outfielder homered for the third straight game and has now gone deep five times in his past seven contests. During that span, Ward is slashing .276/.344/.828 with 10 RBI and six runs scored.
May 18 2025Ward went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run during Sunday's 6-4 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward is on a heater right now. He went yard for the fourth time in six games, tagging Tony Gonsolin for a two-run shot in the first inning. The 31-year-old endured an 0-for-24 slump from April 25 to May 3, but he's 13-for-51 (.255) with six home runs and 15 RBI in 13 outings since.
May 17 2025Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Saturday's 11-9 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward put the Angels ahead 4-3 with a third-inning homer, his 11th long ball of the year. He's one of 26 players with double-digit homers through Saturday's action, but Ward's .196 batting average and .682 OPS both rank lowest of any player in that group. He has been turning a corner lately, going 8-for-24 (.333) with three homers and seven RBI over his last six games. Until his hitting is more consistent over a longer stretch, fantasy managers will have to be satisfied with Ward's power production.
May 14 2025Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to San Diego. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: That's now four homers in the month of May so far for Ward, who's left the yard four times in his last nine outings. The veteran outfielder has only nine hits in his last 10 games, but six of them have gone for extra bases to help give him 12 RBI during this span. The Angels have begun to regularly use Ward in the middle part of their lineup as opposed to the leadoff spot, which should continue to hurt his run-scoring upside but increase his RBI potential.
May 12 2025Ward went 2-for-5 with a grand slam in Monday's 9-5 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward capped a six-run rally in the ninth inning, taking Alek Jacob deep after Robert Suarez struggled in a save opportunity for the Padres. This was Ward's third homer in his last seven games, and he's driven in at least one run in six of those contests, following a stretch in which he went 1-for-27 with a 2:13 BB:K and no RBI. That slump has left a mark on Ward's overall numbers, as evidenced in his .190/.232/.405 slash line over 164 plate appearances. He's added nine homers, 21 RBI, 18 runs scored, six doubles and no stolen bases through 39 games. While Ward isn't hitting all that well, he continues to see steady playing time between left field and designated hitter, as none of the Angels' other outfielders are doing much better than he is.
May 9 2025Ward went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Thursday in a loss to Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward helped the Angels get off to a promising start with a two-run shot in the first inning, but he didn't reach base in any of his remaining four plate appearances. The veteran outfielder has collected long balls in bunches this season -- he has two in his past three contests and slugged five homers in a five-game span in mid-April. Overall, though, he's mostly struggled, slashing .181/.224/.391 with a 27.9 percent strikeout rate through 147 plate appearances.
May 6 2025Ward went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was stuck in an 0-for-24 drought from April 25 to May 3 before knocking a double in Sunday's game versus the Tigers. He looked more lively Tuesday, earning his first multi-hit effort since April 12 versus the Astros. The 31-year-old outfielder is up to seven homers, 12 RBI, 15 runs scored, five doubles and a .188/.234/.391 slash line over 33 games this season. Despite his recent poor hitting, he has maintained a starting role in left field, as the Angels have few players who are making consistent contact lately.
Apr 30 2025Ward is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward will get his first day off of the season after going hitless across his past four games. Gustavo Campero will play left field and bat seventh as the Angels try to avoid their fifth straight loss.
Apr 14 2025Ward went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in a loss to the Astros on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward led off the game with a solo shot to left field, though he struck out in three of his remaining four at-bats. The veteran outfielder has gone deep in four of his past five games, slugging five long balls during that stretch. The power surge has boosted Ward's OPS from a paltry .437 to a much more viable .759.
Apr 13 2025Ward went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 4-1 win against Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward went deep to right field in the fifth inning for the Angels' final run of the contest. The outfielder has slugged four long balls in his past four games after beginning the campaign with no homers over his first 10 contests. During the power surge, Ward is batting .353 with five RBI.
Apr 10 2025Ward went 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs and three total RBI in Thursday's 11-1 win over Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward led off the game with an opposite-field homer off Zack Littell before extending the lead to 5-1 with a two-run blast in the fifth. Ward now has three home runs in his last two games after going 10 contests without a long ball to begin the year. The 31-year-old outfielder is batting .235 with a .704 OPS, six RBI and six runs scored through 25 plate appearances this season.
Apr 9 2025Ward went 1-for-4 with one walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward managed to hit his first home run of the 2025 campaign when he took Ryan Pepiot deep for a 349-foot long ball to right field to reduce the Angels' deficit to two runs. Ward has started the season slashing .196/.240/.283 with three walks, four runs, one home run and three RBI across 50 plate appearances.
Mar 24 2025Ward went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday in an exhibition loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward accounted for the Angels' only run of the game with his 399-foot solo shot to center field in the third inning. The veteran outfielder has gone deep just one time this spring, but he's hit well with a .275/.370/.425 slash line over 46 plate appearances. Ward batted leadoff Sunday, and it appears he'll open the campaign in that position in the batting order after primarily hitting third last season.
Mar 6 2025Ward (knee) will serve as the designated hitter and bat leadoff in Thursday's Cactus League game versus the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knee soreness has prevented Ward from playing since Monday, though the 31-year-old said it's something he would have been playing through if it were the regular season. He now seems to be back to 100 percent and will look to continue what has been a solid start to spring training.
Mar 4 2025Ward is unconcerned about the knee soreness that kept him out of Monday's Cactus League game against the Rockies and said Tuesday that he expects to be back in game action soon, Jack Janes of TheSportingTribune.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward added that he would have played Monday had it been a regular-season contest. He is out of the lineup again Tuesday versus the Guardians, but his return to game action appears imminent.
Mar 3 2025Ward is dealing with some knee soreness and is considered day-to-day, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The injury helps explain why he hasn't played in a Cactus League game since Friday. Given the day-to-day designation, Ward should be fine, barring any setbacks. He's projected as the Angels' everyday left fielder and likely leadoff hitter this season.
Feb 14 2025Angels manager Ron Washington said Friday that he envisions Ward, Mike Trout (knee) and Jorge Soler being his first three hitters in the lineup in some order, Sam Blum of The Athleticreports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was the team's leadoff hitter for most of the final two months of last season, so he would seem likely to occupy that spot again, although Soler also batted leadoff some last year with the Giants and Atlanta. Washington did add a caveat that one of Ward, Trout or Soler could bat cleanup, so he hasn't written anything down in ink yet. Zach Neto (shoulder) is expected to begin the season on the injured list but will bat fifth or sixth upon his return, per Washington.
Jan 9 2025Ward and the Angels agreed to a one-year, $7.825 million contract Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward clubbed a career-high 25 homers last season and will receive a raise of just over $3 million for 2025, which is his penultimate year of arbitration eligibility. He's been a popular name in trade rumors over the past year, but for now it appears he'll be back with the Angels for Opening Day.
Sep 20 2024Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss to Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward accounted for the Angels' only run with his 416-foot solo shot to lead off the game. The long ball was his 25th of the campaign -- the first time he has reached that mark as a big-leaguer. Ward's leadoff homer Thursday was his fifth in his past 19 games. According to Angels Senior Communications Manager Matt Birch, the outfielder is the first player to have at least five leadoff home runs in a season for the team since Mike Trout in 2012.
Sep 18 2024Ward went 3-for-4 with a steal, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward posted his third three-hit game of the month and stole just his second base since June 21. He's been seeing the baseball extremely well in September, slashing .340/.444/.717 with six homers, nine RBI, 15 runs and a 15.9 percent walk rate, which is well above his career average.
Sep 15 2024Ward went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A late surge has seen Ward slug seven homers over his last 15 games to give himself a career-best 24 long balls this season. He's hit safely in 10 of 13 games in September, going 15-for-46 (.326) in that span. The outfielder is up to a .246/.321/.437 slash line with 68 RBI, 70 runs scored, four stolen bases and 26 doubles over 143 contests this season, and he's regularly hit leadoff over the last month.
Sep 11 2024Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward led off the game with a homer, his sixth in his last 12 games. In that span, he's gone 16-for-46 (.348) with eight RBI and 12 runs scored. The outfielder has matched his career high in homers (23) from the 2022 season, though his .758 OPS this year is a far cry from the .833 mark he posted in that campaign. Ward has added 67 RBI, 67 runs scored, four stolen bases, 26 doubles and two triples over 140 contests in 2024.
Sep 7 2024Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward led off the game with a homer against Jack Leiter to give the Angels an early lead. The long ball was his fifth over his past eight games, a span in which he's batting .313 (10-for-32) with seven extra-base hits, six RBI and eight runs. Ward is up to 22 home runs on the season, one shy of the career-high mark he set in 2022.
Sep 4 2024Ward went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional RBI, an additional run scored and a walk in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was the only Angel with multiple hits in the blowout win. He also homered for a third straight game, including both contests in this series versus the Dodgers. The outfielder's recent power surge has him up to 21 homers and 64 RBI while adding a .244/.315/.429 slash line over 133 contests. He's two homers shy of matching his career high from 2022 and continues to thrive in the leadoff role.
Sep 3 2024Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 6-2 extra-inning loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the second time in three years, Ward has reached the 20-homer mark, doing so this time with a fifth-inning solo shot. He's surged to milestone, as he's hit four long balls during his active 13-game hitting streak. In that span, Ward has added six RBI, three doubles, two triples, a steal and seven runs scored while batting .294 (15-for-51). He's up to a .240/.311/.420 slash line with 62 RBI, 59 runs scored, 25 doubles and four steals over 132 contests this season.
Sep 1 2024Ward went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and a second run scored in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward homered while leading off the bottom of the first inning for the second time in three games. He was also on base in the fifth when Anthony Rendon hit a two-run double that ended up being the difference in this contest. This was Ward's second multi-hit effort during his 12-game hitting streak, a span in which he's gone 14-for-47 (.298). The outfielder is up to 19 homers, 61 RBI, 58 runs scored, four stolen bases, 25 doubles and a .240/.311/.415 slash line through 131 contests overall.
Aug 30 2024Ward went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Angels were already behind 5-0 by the time Ward came to bat to lead off the bottom of the first inning. He started a decent comeback effort with his solo shot, but he went hitless in his last four at-bats of the game. The outfielder is hitting .282 (11-for-39) during a 10-game hitting streak, which has him up to a .238/.310/.406 slash line for the year. Ward has added 18 homers, 60 RBI, 56 runs scored, 23 doubles, two triples and four stolen bases over 129 contests.
Aug 29 2024Ward went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward had a productive day against the Tigers, reaching base twice and swiping his fourth base of the season. Ward snapped a streak of 54 games without a stolen base, getting his first one since June 21. The 30-year-old has proven one of the Angels most durable and consistent players this season, with 17 home runs and 59 RBI over 128 games.
Aug 24 2024Ward went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward provided the only offense for the Angels, ending Bowden Francis' no-hit bid with his first home run since July 28. The 30-year-old has hit safely in eight of 10 contests with three multi-hit efforts, though he hasn't contributed much else over that span. On the season, he is hitting .237 with 17 homers, 58 RBI and 53 runs scored across 524 plate appearances.
Aug 9 2024The Angels activated Ward from the paternity list Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward missed this week's series in New York against the Yankees while tending to more important matters, but he's back for the weekend set versus the Nationals. The 30-year-old is sporting a .704 OPS with 16 home runs on the season.
Aug 6 2024The Angels placed Ward on the paternity list Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward will step away from the team for a few days in order to be with his growing family. The 30-year-old should be back with the Angels for Friday's series opener at Washington.
Jul 29 2024Ward went 2-for-5 with a grand slam in an 8-6 win against Oakland on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward turned the tide of the contest in the fourth inning, belting a grand slam that turned a Los Angeles three-run deficit into a one-run lead. It was the outfielder's second homer in his past three contests following a 24-game stretch without a long ball. Ward has run hot and cold this season, and he's slashing .227/.309/.401 with 16 home runs, 51 RBI, 47 runs and three stolen bases through 433 plate appearances overall.
Jul 26 2024Ward went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder finally put a power drought to rest -- he hadn't homered over his last 24 games, hitting just .169 with four doubles and four RBI in that span. Ward's blast was his 15th homer of the season, and he's added 47 RBI, 46 runs scored, three stolen bases and 18 doubles while slashing .226/.309/.396 over 101 contests. His average has taken a bit of a dip, but the rest of his numbers are mostly in line with what he produced over 97 games in 2023.
Jul 9 2024Ward (knee) is starting in left field and batting third Tuesday versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward crashed into the Wrigley Field outfield wall in Sunday's loss to the Cubs, which resulted in some knee soreness. His knee felt better Monday and the outfielder is making his expected return Tuesday.
Jul 8 2024Ward (knee) is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Rangers, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward banged up his knee when he crashed into the outfield wall at Wrigley Field during Sunday's loss to the Cubs. He is feeling much better Monday and fully expects to return to the lineup Tuesday. Kevin Pillar will occupy left field Monday in Ward's stead.
Jul 2 2024Ward (head) is starting in left field and batting third Tuesday following being hit in the head Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward departed Sunday's game versus the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth inning after being struck by a pitch in the head, a 93 mph fastball thrown by Shelby Miller. Ward's removal from the game has now proved to be more of a precautionary move.
Jun 30 2024Ward (head) exited Sunday's game against the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth inning after being hit the in head by a pitch, Greg Beacham of The Associated Press reports. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his first three plate appearances of the day. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was struck in the head after a 93 mph fastball got away from reliever Shelby Miller. The outfielder looked to be OK after getting hit, with his removal from the contest potentially being a matter of precaution, according to Beacham. The 30-year-old missed the final three months of the 2023 campaign after being hit in the face by a pitch from Toronto starter Alek Manoah, making the situation Sunday particularly jarring. Ward's status will likely receive an update in the near future, but at the moment, he appears to have avoided any significant injury.
Jun 26 2024Ward went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run during Tuesday's 7-5 win over Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward launched a homer for the second consecutive night, tagging Sean Newcomb for a solo shot in the seventh inning. He's riding a five-game hit streak, batting 7-for-15 (.467) with five extra-base hits, five runs scored and a stolen base during that stretch. Ward also ranks top 20 in the AL in home runs and RBI.
Jun 24 2024Ward went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Monday's 5-1 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward gave the Angels all the offense they needed with his first-inning blast. This was his 13th homer of the season, but it's just his second over the last 24 contests. The outfielder may be coming back around at the plate, as he's hit safely in four straight games, but he's at a .241/.326/.431 slash line with 40 RBI, 37 runs scored and three stolen bases through 75 contests overall.
Jun 21 2024Ward went 2-for-3 with one RBI, one walk, one stolen base and one run scored in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward put the Angels ahead with an RBI single in the 10th inning and then stole second. The Angels didn't add to their lead, but they were able to hold on. With just two multi-hit efforts in June, Ward has been a bit disappointing after he started the season in good form at the plate. He's slashing .240/.325/.419 with 12 home runs, three steals, 38 RBI and 35 runs scored over 73 contests, but just one of those long balls, but he has just three extra-base hits in June.
Jun 13 2024Ward (back) is serving as the Angels' designated hitter and batting third Thursday versus the Diamondbacks, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was taken out of Tuesday's game due to back tightness and had to miss Wednesday's contest as well, but the issue has now seemingly subsided. Since June 1, the 30-year-old outfielder has gone just 4-for-28 with two RBI and two runs while striking out eight times in nine games.
Jun 12 2024Ward (back) isn't in the Angels' lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Diamondbacks, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lower-back tightness caused Ward to make an early exit from Tuesday's loss, though the Angels labeled his removal as precautionary. He'll remain sidelined Wednesday while Kevin Pillar starts in left field, batting third.
Jun 11 2024Ward was removed from Tuesday's game against Arizona due to lower-back tightness. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Angels described Ward's removal as precautionary, so it's unlikely he's dealing with a serious injury. The 30-year-old outfielder had gone 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an RBI double before leaving in the eighth inning, and he's now slashing .253/.331/.452 with 12 homers and 36 RBI on the season.
May 26 2024Ward went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Saturday's loss to the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward jumped on a four-seamer from Tanner Bibee in the bottom of the third and launched it over the wall in left field for a three-run shot to bring the Angels back within one run of Cleveland. It marked the fourth long ball for the outfielder in his last nine games as well as his first multi-RBI effort this month. Ward is now up to 11 home runs and 32 RBI on the campaign while also hitting safely in eight of his last 10 games.
May 18 2024Ward went 2-for-6 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 extra-innings loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was the only Angel with multiple hits in the 13-inning marathon. He's logged three straight multi-hit games, swatting a homer in each of them to reach 10 long balls on the year. The outfielder is slashing .275/.320/.494 with 28 RBI, 27 runs scored, nine doubles and two stolen bases over 45 contests. Ward continues to hold down a near-everyday role in left field as one of the more productive players on the Angels' roster.
May 16 2024Ward went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward jumped on a four-seamer from Nick Robertson in the bottom of the seventh and sent it into the stands in left field for a leadoff home run, giving the outfielder his first long ball this month and his eighth overall on the season. Ward also recorded a single in the contest, marking his fourth multi-hit game in May, during which he's now batting .261 with three RBI and six runs scored.
May 7 2024Ward is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward started the first 35 games of the season but has a .602 OPS over his past 10 contests and will take a seat Tuesday. Kevin Pillar will start in left field and bat fifth.
Apr 25 2024Ward went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward followed up Mike Trout's solo homer in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run shot of his own just two batters later, bringing the Angels back within three runs of Baltimore. The outfielder now has five homers and 19 RBI in April, though he's gone just 4-for-26 (.153) at the plate over his last seven games. He's also failed to register multiple hits in any game over that stretch.
Apr 15 2024Ward went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored during Monday's 7-3 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward launched his third homer of the last four games and extended his hit streak to eight consecutive games. The long ball plated Anthony Rendon in the ninth inning and gave closer Carlos Estevez four runs of cushion. Ward might be headed toward a breakout campaign, being tied for fourth in the majors in home runs (six) with an impressive .313/.333/.612 slash line through 16 games.
Apr 14 2024Ward went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run Saturday in a loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward's long ball didn't make much of an impact on the outcome of the game, but it was another promising development in what is unfolding as a bounce-back campaign for the outfielder. Ward has gone deep in each of his past two contests and has five homers overall through 14 games, tied for sixth-most in the majors. He's also tied for fifth in the league with 16 RBI and is slashing .310/.333/.603 with 11 runs and a stolen base.
Apr 13 2024Ward went 1-for-5 with a home run, two total runs and three total RBI in Friday's 7-0 victory over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward plated the Angels' first run with a fielder's choice groundout in the first inning and subsequently came around to score. He added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth with a two-run blast to center. The outfielder is off to an excellent start to the campaign, slashing .296/.321/.556 with four homers, 14 RBI, 10 runs and a stolen base through 56 plate appearances. After going 0-for-4 on Opening Day, Ward has reached base safely in 12 consecutive contests.
Apr 8 2024Ward went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a stolen base in a 7-1 victory versus Tampa Bay on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward plated the Angels' second run of the game with an RBI single in the first inning and added a two-run single in the fifth. The outfielder leads the team with 11 RBI through 10 games, and he's tied for seventh in the league in that category. After having his season ended early last year due to being struck in the face by a pitch, Ward has bounced back with a strong start to 2024, slashing .310/.326/.571 with three homers and eight runs through 43 plate appearances.
Apr 3 2024Ward went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two total RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 10-2 victory over Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward wound up a triple shy of the cycle Wednesday -- he put the Angels ahead 1-0 with an RBI single in the first inning before smacking a solo homer off Kent Emanuel to cap the scoring in the eighth. The 30-year-old Ward now has hits in his last five games, going 8-for-21 (.381) with three homers and eight RBI in that span. Ward should continue to bat cleanup behind Mike Trout in Anaheim after he slashed .253/.335/.421 with 14 homers and 47 RBI in 97 games last year.
Mar 31 2024Ward went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward opened the scoring for the Angels on Sunday by crushing a 399-foot home run off Tyler Wells in the first inning. This was his second straight game with two-run homer after going hitless Opening Day. Ward is cemented firmly into the Angels lineup as the starting left fielder and cleanup hitter. He'll look to keep his hot start going in the team's next series against the Marlins in Miami for three games.
Feb 17 2024Ward faced live pitching Saturday for the first time since suffering multiple facial fractures when he was hit in the face by a pitch last July, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward underwent surgery last August after the hit by pitch to have three plates inserted as well as a full nose reconstruction. He was considered fully recovered by October, though, setting him up for a normal offseason. Ward slashed .253/.335/.421 with 14 home runs over 97 contests in 2023 before the season-ending injury. He's slated to be the Angels' regular left fielder in 2024.
Feb 9 2024Ward (face) will be ready to participate from Day 1 of spring training, Trent Rush of Angels Radio AM 830 reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward underwent surgery last August as a result of suffering fractures to several bones in his face after being hit by a pitch in a game, but he appears to be fully recovered and good to go for the start of spring training. The outfielder recently won his arbitration case and is set to make $4.8 million this year as one of the more prominent bats in an Angels lineup that won't include Shohei Ohtani for the first time since 2017. Ward is lined up to the be team's starting left fielder and will look to build upon his shortened 2023 campaign, during which he slashed .253/.335/.421 with 14 home runs, 47 RBI, 60 runs and four stolen bases over 97 games.
Feb 6 2024Ward (face) won his arbitration case against the Angels on Tuesday and will earn $4.8 million in 2024, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward will receive a decent pay bump in his second year of arbitration eligibility. The 30-year-old had a .253/.335/.421 slash line with 14 home runs last season, though he was hit in the face by a pitch in July and played in just 97 games. Ward underwent surgery in August to repair multiple facial fractures but shouldn't have any issues being ready for the start of the season.
Aug 5 2023Ward underwent facial surgery Friday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward fractured several bones in his face when taking a pitch to the head in late July, and he underwent procedures on both his left orbital bone and nose Friday. It's unclear exactly how long Ward will need to recover, but he is not eligible to be activated from the injured list until late September, so he will not be back on the field anytime soon.
Jul 30 2023Ward (face) was moved to the 60-day injured list Sunday, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was hit in the head by a pitch Saturday against the Blue Jays and was diagnosed with multiple facial fractures. After landing on the 10-day injured list Sunday, he'll shift to the 60-day IL later in the day to make room on the 40-man roster for new acquisitions C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk. Sunday's move means that Ward will be sidelined until at least late September.
Jul 29 2023Ward exited Saturday's game against the Blue Jays after getting hit by a pitch in the head, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was sitting up in the cart as he got a standing ovation from the crowd and had a visibly swollen left eye after getting hit by a pitch thrown by Alek Manoah. Ward will presumably be checked for a concussion, and the team will update his status. He hit .327 with five home runs in his most recent 13 games entering play Saturday.
Jul 27 2023Ward went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward swatted a two-run shot in the sixth inning and a solo homer in the eighth to produce half of Los Angeles' run output in the matinee of the twin bill. He followed with an 0-for-4 performance in Game 2, though he also walked and scored a run in that contest. Ward has been swinging a hot stick since the start of the second half of the season, batting .311 (14-for-45) with five homers, 13 RBI 12 runs and a stolen base over 12 contests.
Jul 21 2023Ward went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Friday's 8-5 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward provided the Angels' last two runs of the contest with his fifth-inning blast. He's gone 9-for-28 (.321) with three long balls, three doubles and nine RBI over his last seven contests to help solidify his place in the lineup coming out of the All-Star break. The outfielder is up to 12 homers, 40 RBI, 57 runs scored, three stolen bases and a .249/.329/.408 slash line over 90 games.
Jul 19 2023Ward went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk, two total runs and three total RBI in Wednesday's 7-3 win against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward accounted for two of the Angels' three extra-base hits in the contest, swatting a two-run homer in the first inning and belting an RBI ground-rule double in the eighth. It was his third multi-hit performance in six games since the All-Star break, though he went a combined 1-for-11 in the other three contests. Ward has been a slight disappointment this season following last year's breakthrough campaign, but he's still managed decent production with a .248/.327/.400 slash line, 11 homers, 17 doubles, 38 RBI, 53 runs and three steals through 89 games.
Jul 15 2023Ward went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Friday's 7-5 loss to Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward continues his hot streak, as he's currently hitting .304 in the month of July. While his slash line this season doesn't jump off the page (.245/.387/.706), the outfielder is trending in the right direction after a dismal start to the campaign.
Jul 14 2023Ward (groin) is hitting third and starting in left field Friday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was held out before the break due to a minor groin injury, but a week off was all he needed. Ward should continue to hit high in the lineup while Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Brandon Drury are all on the injured list.
Jul 8 2023Ward was held out of Saturday's lineup against the Dodgers due to lingering groin discomfort, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday due to discomfort in his groin. He returned Friday, but then had the issue flare back up one day later. When discussing Ward's health after Saturday's game, manager Phil Nevin was non-commital in his update, stating that Ward was available "to a point" but that he wanted to be cautious. The injury doesn't sound likely to linger into the second half of the season, but it will remain worth monitoring.
Jul 5 2023Ward is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He will begin this one on the bench while Jo Adell gets the start in left field. Ward ended June in a slide at the plate but has reached base seven times over his first four July contests.
Jun 29 2023Ward is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the White Sox, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward had started the last 10 games in left field but will take a seat for this one after going hitless in his previous three contests. Mickey Moniak will be in left.
Jun 25 2023Ward went 2-for-6 with a walk, two runs and three RBI in Saturday's 25-1 thrashing of the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was a historic day for the Angels offense, as the team put up a franchise record 25 runs and 28 hits. Ward wasn't left out of the feast, as he reached base three times and collected three RBI out of the leadoff spot. The outfielder has multiple hits in five of his past 10 contests and is slashing .273/.313/.409 with three doubles, a homer, 10 runs, five RBI and a steal over that stretch.
Jun 17 2023Ward went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo homer, an additional run scored and one steal in Saturday's loss to Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since May 30, Ward has totaled 20 hits, five home runs, 10 RBI and 14 runs scored across 15 appearances. He's seemingly won his starting gig back from Mickey Moniak, who has been swinging a hot bat since being recalled from Triple-A in mid-May. Ward will presumably have to remain productive if he's going to continue to stave off Moniak moving forward.
Jun 16 2023Ward isn't in the Angels' lineup Friday against the Royals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 6-for-20 at the plate with a home run, two RBI and seven runs scored across his last five games, Ward will get a breather during Friday's contest. Mickey Moniak will take over in left field and bat in the leadoff spot.
Jun 11 2023Ward went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and two total runs in Sunday's 9-4 win against Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward provided an instant spark for the Angels when he led off the bottom of the first inning with a homer. It was his fourth long ball over his past 10 games after he went deep just four times through his first 51 contests this season. Ward had an eight-game hitting streak snapped Friday, but he got back on track Sunday and appears to have regained a near-everyday role as the team's starting left fielder.
Jun 9 2023Ward went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base Thursday in a 3-1 victory versus the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward didn't play Wednesday due to an illness, though he was reportedly available off the bench. The outfielder returned to the lineup Thursday and continued his recent offensive surge, plating one of the Angels' three runs, nabbing his second theft of the season and hitting his seventh double. A few weeks ago, Ward appeared to be in danger of losing his starting role to Mickey Moniak, but he's since turned things around by slashing .364/.389/.697 with three homers, seven RBI and a steal over his past eight games.
Jun 7 2023Ward isn't starting Wednesday against the Cubs, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward earned himself a day off after homering Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to seven games. While Ward sits, Luis Rengifo will pick up a start in left field and bat eighth.
Jun 6 2023Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward extended his hitting streak to seven games with his seventh-inning solo shot. In that span, the outfielder has gone 11-for-30 (.367) with three homers and six RBI. He had a three-game stint as the cleanup hitter, but he was back atop the order Tuesday with the return of Anthony Rendon (groin) from the injured list. Ward is slashing .241/.307/.366 with seven homers, 23 RBI, 32 runs scored and a stolen base through 58 contests. He can be streaky, but his place in the Angels' lineup will continue to lead to fantasy interest when he's hitting well.
Jun 2 2023Ward went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has hit safely in four straight games, going 8-for-17 (.471) with five RBI in that span. While it was a solid game for the outfielder, the Angels struggled overall. He's been getting back on track after snapping a 2-for-26 skid during the latter half of May. For the season, Ward's at a .241/.311/.360 slash line with six home runs, 22 RBI, 31 runs scored and a stolen base through 55 contests. He appears to have regained the starting job in left field over Mickey Moniak, though Ward will need to show at least some steadiness at the plate to fend off further challenges for his playing time.
Jun 1 2023Ward is starting in left field and batting leadoff Thursday in Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has homered in back-to-back contests and has now started four of the last five games in left field, with all of them coming against right-handed pitching. He could be regaining his starting spot over Mickey Moniak, who will begin Thursday's game on the bench.
May 31 2023Ward went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 12-5 victory over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward is now 4-for-8 with a pair of homers in his last two games after going 2-for-26 in his previous nine contests. It's been a streaky season for the 29-year-old outfielder after a breakout campaign last year. Ward is now slashing .232/.306/.356 with six homers, 31 runs scored and 20 RBI through 219 plate appearances this season.
May 30 2023Ward went 2-for-4 with one double and a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-3 loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was in the leadoff spot for Tuesday's game with Mickey Moniak getting the day off and started the contest with a bang, taking Lucas Giolito yard for a solo home run in the first inning. The long ball snapped a home run drought that dated back to May 2 (22 games) and marked his fifth of the campaign. Tuesday's outing was a much-needed spark for Ward, who was batting 2-for-26 (.077) in the nine games leading up to the contest.
May 29 2023Ward is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward picked up starts in three of the Angels' last four games, but two came against left-handed pitchers and the other came Sunday, when Hunter Renfroe received a routine day of rest. With right-hander Michael Kopech on the bump for the White Sox, Ward will retreat to the bench while the lefty-hitting Mickey Moniak gets another turn in left field at his expense. According to J.P. Hoornstra of The Orange County Register, manager Phil Nevin said over the weekend that he plans to take a matchups-based approach toward his usage of Ward, who may be stuck in the short side of a platoon in left field while Moniak continues to make an impact atop the batting order.
May 27 2023Ward is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Marlins, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward will get a breather with right-hander Edward Cabrera on the bump for the Marlins on Saturday. Mickey Moniak will hit at the top of the lineup and play left field in Ward's absence.
May 24 2023Ward is starting in left field and batting leadoff Wednesday versus the Red Sox, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was out of the lineup for the previous three contests while the hot-hitting Mickey Moniak played left field, but he'll return to action for this one with the Red Sox starting left-handed James Paxton. He did have a pinch-hit double Tuesday, breaking Ward's 0-for-15 stretch at the dish.
May 23 2023Ward isn't in the Angels' lineup for Tuesday's game against Boston, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Tuesday marks the third consecutive game that the slumping Ward has begun in the dugout in favor of Mickey Moniak, who will bat leadoff Tuesday. Ward will likely get the nod in left Wednesday against lefty James Paxton and get a few more chances to break his cold streak.
May 22 2023Ward is not in the Angels' lineup for Monday's game versus the Red Sox, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's been slumping lately and will sit out a second straight game as Mickey Moniak handles left field. Ward is hitless in his last 12 at-bats.
May 21 2023Ward is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has struggled over the past week and is currently in the middle of an 0-for-12 skid over his last four appearances. Mickey Moniak is playing left field and hitting in the leadoff spot against Pablo Lopez and the Twins on Sunday.
May 18 2023Ward is not in the Angels' lineup for Thursday's game versus the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a day off for Ward with it being a day game after a night game. Mickey Moniak is in left field and also batting leadoff Thursday.
May 13 2023Ward will sit Saturday against the Guardians, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has followed up his .833 OPS from his breakout season last year with a .663 OPS through 39 games this season. Mickey Moniak was called up Friday and will make his season debut Saturday, leading off and starting in left field.
May 8 2023Ward went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs against the Astros in a 6-4 win Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was a catalyst for the offense from the top of the order, as his base hits in the third and fifth frames each led to a score. The outfielder finished with his second three-hit game of the campaign, with his other such performance coming just four days earlier. Ward struggled through much of April but has bounced back in May, batting .407 (11-for-27) with a homer, five RBI and six runs through seven contests.
May 5 2023Ward went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI in Thursday's 11-7 victory versus the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward led the charge near the bottom of the order, as each of the Angels' No. 6, 7 and 8 batters tallied three hits. Ward added a sacrifice fly to his productive day, and his ninth-inning double was his first in over two weeks. The outfielder went through a 1-for-14 stretch between April 26 and April 29, but he's since bounced back by going 6-for-12 with a homer, a walk and four RBI over his subsequent four contests.
May 3 2023Ward went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Angels tacked four runs on Steven Matz in the first inning led by Ward's three-run shot. It was his fourth long ball of the year and will hopefully bring him some confidence back at the plate after he's really struggled to get going, slashing .209/.318/.336. He has just six extra-base hits to go with 13 RBI, 19 runs and a 15:27 BB:K over 129 plate appearances.
Apr 30 2023Ward is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Milwaukee, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was dropped from the leadoff spot to seventh in the batting order Saturday, and he'll head to the bench after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. The 29-year-old has a .132/.254/.208 slash line across his past 15 games, so a day off certainly can't hurt. Luis Rengifo will cover left field in his place Sunday.
Apr 29 2023Ward is starting in left field and batting seventh Saturday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is a drastic move, as 97 of Ward's 102 at-bats have come atop the lineup. He will head to the bottom third of the lineup with righty Corbin Burnes on the hill. The Angels will look to get him going with a less prominent spot in the lineup, as Ward has a disappointing .216 average, .325 OBP and three home runs in 27 games.
Apr 4 2023Ward went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Monday's 7-3 victory over Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Angels up by one run in the eighth inning, Ward provided some breathing room with a two-run blast to center field. The long ball was his second of the season and extended his hitting streak to four games. Ward is off to a great start to the campaign, slashing .421/.421/.737 with six RBI, four runs and a stolen base through 19 plate appearances.
Apr 1 2023Ward went 3-for-5 with a home run, two total runs and four total RBI in Saturday's 13-1 victory against Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward batted out of the leadoff spot for the Angels and struck out in his first at-bat. Things got much better for him in the third inning, when the outfielder singled home a run early in the frame and later capped an 11-run outburst with a two-run homer for his first long ball of the campaign. Ward has gone 4-for-9 through his first two games this season.
Mar 20 2023Ward went 0-for-4 in Monday's Cactus League loss to Cincinnati, but he is slashing .333/.389/.515 with a home run, three doubles, six runs and five RBI over 36 plate appearances this spring. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward is coming off a career year in 2022, when he slashed .281/.360/.473 with 23 homers, 65 RBI, 73 runs and five stolen bases. The breakthrough helped him become one of fantasy's top waiver-wire pickups, and he's typically going within the top 130 picks in mixed-league drafts heading into this season. Ward has a stranglehold on the starting job in left field for the Angels and had solid peripheral stats last season, so he could easily match or exceed his 2022 numbers if he's able to remain healthy.
Jan 13 2023Ward and the Angels agreed on a one-year, $2.75 million contract Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward and the team won't have to work through the arbitration process anymore after completing a deal Friday. The 29-year-old had a career year in 2022, batting .281 with 23 homers, 65 RBI, 73 runs and five stolen bases over 495 at-bats in 135 games last season.
Oct 4 2022Ward went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run and an RBI in Monday's extra-inning loss versus the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward continued his torrid stretch with two more hits Monday, both doubles. Over his last 18 games, he is batting .426 (29-for-68) with seven doubles, five home runs and 26 combined runs and RBI. Ward has had a streaky season, but he is finishing on an upswing, which is validated by his near-elite Statcast metrics. He should be a viable option for fantasy managers in 2023.
Oct 2 2022Ward went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has surged at the plate over the last week, going 12-for-23 (.522) with five multi-hit efforts in his last six games. The surge has lifted his batting average to .284, its highest point since July 26. He's added an .842 OPS, 23 home runs, 64 RBI, 72 runs scored and five stolen bases through 132 contests.
Sep 29 2022Ward went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward is on fire at the plate, and he continued the trend with three hits Thursday, including a solo homer in the third inning to put Los Angeles up 3-0. The long ball was Ward's 23rd on the season and sixth this month, during which he is batting .364 (32-for-88) with two stolen bases and a strong 10:16 K:BB. He has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games on his way to a strong finish to a breakout campaign.
Sep 24 2022Ward went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in a 4-2 victory over the Twins on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward extended his hitting streak to nine games with the pair of solo shots. Ward now has 21 home runs and is slashing .274/.357/.460 in 452 at-bats this season. The 28-year-old right fielder has made the most of his increased playing time in 2022 and has proven that he belongs in an everyday role with a big-league club.
Sep 21 2022Ward went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward provided the only offense for the Angels with a two-run homer in the first inning. The home run was Ward's 19th of the season and comes amidst a modest seven-game hitting streak. During that stretch he is 11-for-25 with one home run, six RBI and four runs scored.
Sep 18 2022Ward went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, going 16-for-42 (.381) in that span with three extra-base hits in that span. The steal was his fourth of the season and first since July 26, as the 28-year-old outfielder hasn't provided much of a speed boost this year. The hot month at the plate has lifted his slash line to .270/.355/.440 with 18 home runs, 53 RBI and 62 runs scored through 498 plate appearances.
Sep 16 2022Ward went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 8-7 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has produced four multi-hit efforts in his last nine games, going 13-for-32 (.406) in that span. He hit a two-run single in the first inning to give the Angels the lead early Friday, snapping a four-game stretch without an RBI. The outfielder is up to a .269/.356/.443 slash line with 18 home runs, 53 RBI, 62 runs scored and three stolen bases, and his double Friday gave him a career-high 16 through 117 contests.
Sep 10 2022Ward went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward delivered the opening run with an RBI single in the first inning. He added two more singles in the game and scored a run on a Mike Ford double in the fifth. The three-hit effort extended Ward's hitting streak to five games, his longest in a month. The outfielder is up to a .266/.352/.444 slash line with 18 home runs, 51 RBI, 60 runs scored and three stolen bases in 112 contests.
Aug 29 2022Ward (personal) was reinstated from the restricted list Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was unavailable for the Angels' three-game series in Toronto this weekend due to his vaccination status, but he'll start in right field and bat fifth Monday against the Yankees now that the Angels are back home. The 28-year-old has hit .216 with four home runs, three doubles, 11 RBI and six runs over 23 games since the start of August.
Aug 26 2022Ward (personal) was placed on the restricted list Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward is apparently unvaccinated, so he's unable to travel to Canada for the three-game series in Toronto this weekend. The 28-year-old should rejoin the active roster ahead of Monday's series opener against the Yankees. Ryan Aguilar was promoted in a corresponding move and could see some playing time in right field with Ward out.
Aug 24 2022Ward went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Wednesday's extra-innings loss against Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After recording just one hit in his previous 22 at bats, Ward notched three hits Wednesday to break out of his slump. The outfielder has cooled off significantly since slashing .286/.380/.492 in the first half as he entered Wednesday's matchup slashing .184/.275/.307 in 131 second half plate appearances. Hopefully the three-hit effort is a sign that he may return to his early-season form.
Aug 13 2022Ward went 2-for-5 with a walkoff two-run home run in Saturday's 5-3 extra-innings win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward completed the Angels' comeback victory in the 11th inning, taking Twins reliever Emilio Pagan deep. This was Ward's third homer in his last 10 games, and he's hit safely in eight of those contests. The outfielder is up to 16 long balls, 43 RBI, 52 runs scored, three stolen bases and a .268/.357/.461 slash line through 381 plate appearances this year.
Aug 9 2022Ward went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and two walks in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has quietly rebounded to consistency to begin August after ending July cold, going 9-for-35 (.257) through nine contests this month. He's hit safely in seven straight games. The outfielder is up to a .274/.365/.465 slash line with 15 homers, 41 RBI, 51 runs scored and three stolen bases through 367 plate appearances.
Jul 31 2022Ward is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward's streak of 39 consecutive starts will come to an end while he takes a seat for the first time since being activated from the injured list June 14. With 13 home runs and a .273 average to go with three stolen bases on the season, Ward has still been a major source of profit for anyone that scooped him off the waiver wire, but he's batting just .220 with three long balls since coming off the IL.
Jul 26 2022Ward went 1-for-3 with a stolen base, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward hadn't recorded a steal since June 27, but he accounted for one of the Angels' five thefts Tuesday. The 28-year-old outfielder is batting .217 (15-for-69) in July, continuing his regression in what's been his worst month of the season at the plate. Overall, he owns a .287/.379/.489 slash line with 13 home runs, 35 RBI, 46 runs scored and three steals in five attempts through 73 contests.
Jul 25 2022Ward (leg) is starting Monday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward exited Sunday's win over Atlanta due to a leg cramp, but he'll be back in the lineup for Monday's series opener in Kansas City. The 28-year-old has recorded hits in each of the three games since the All-Star break, going 5-for-13 with a homer, two runs, an RBI and two strikeouts during that time.
Jul 24 2022Ward was removed from Sunday's win over Atlanta due to a leg cramp, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Phil Nevin said after Sunday's matchup that Ward is fine, so it doesn't appear as though the issue will lead to a significant absence. Ward was productive prior to his removal in the top of the eighth inning, going 3-for-5 with a solo homer and two runs. The 28-year-old should be considered day-to-day ahead of Monday's series opener in Kansas City.
Jul 2 2022Ward went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks Saturday in a loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Angels mustered little offense against four Houston pitchers in the loss, but Ward did well in the leadoff spot by reaching base three times. His third-inning solo homer accounted for the only Los Angeles run of the game. The long ball broke a nine-game homer drought for Ward, but he has continued to hit well atop the order, batting .340 with two homers, six RBI, 10 runs and a stolen base over his past 12 games.
Jun 28 2022Ward went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base in Monday's 4-3 victory against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward produced the key hit for Los Angeles in the contest, doubling in the seventh inning to knock in the tying and winning runs. The outfielder has continued his breakout campaign with an eight-game hitting streak during which he is slashing .394/.444/.576 with a home run, seven runs, five RBI and a stolen base. Ward has a .965 OPS overall this season, ranking sixth among AL batters with at least 150 plate appearances.
Jun 20 2022Ward went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward accounted for the Angels' two runs in the game, hitting a solo shot in the third inning and an RBI single in the fifth. He was the only Angels batter to record multiple hits in the contest, his third such effort in his last eight games. The 28-year-old is up to a .313/.406/.578 slash line with 11 homers, 28 RBI, 35 runs scored and a stolen base across 192 plate appearances.
Jun 19 2022Ward went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward snapped an 0-for-13 skid at the plate with this three-hit effort. He's now gone 11 contests without an extra-base hit, going 8-for-45 in that span (.178), which included a minimum stay on the injured list. The 28-year-old's strong Sunday allowed his slash line to rebound to .309/.404/.562, but it appears regression has taken hold a bit after he was one of the hottest hitters in the game over the first two months of the season. He's added 10 home runs, 26 RBI, a career-high 34 runs and a stolen base in 45 games.
Jun 16 2022Ward went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All three of Ward's hits were singles, and that served well to set the table for both of Mike Trout's home runs in the contest. This snapped Ward's 0-for-8 skid at the plate in two games since he returned from the injured list. The 28-year-old outfielder is up to a .324/.427/.607 slash line with 10 home runs, 26 RBI, 32 runs scored and a stolen base across 171 plate appearances.
Jun 14 2022Ward (hamstring/neck) went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Tuesday's 2-0 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward spent the minimum 10 days on the injured list, but he was held in check by Tony Gonsolin and the Dodgers' bullpen in his return. Prior to landing on the IL, Ward was stuck in a 4-for-24 slump across eight games, cooling off after a strong start to the year. He still owns a robust .324/.432/.625 slash line with 10 home runs, 26 RBI, 30 runs scored and a stolen base in 39 contests, and he should slot back in as the Angels' main leadoff hitter now that he's healthy.
Jun 9 2022Ward (hamstring/neck) has been progressing, and he's expected to return from the injured list when first eligible against the Dodgers on Tuesday, Sarah Wexler of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has been battling a sore right hamstring as well as a neck stinger, but Angels head trainer Mike Frostad said Wednesday that the outfielder is progressing well from both issues. "We're still working through it a little bit," said Frostad. "I mean, I wouldn't say it's completely healed, but he's still able to throw and he's able to hit and he's pain free with everything. So that's the biggest thing, is he's not feeling any soreness." Ward's activation will likely lessen the playing time of both Jo Adell and Juan Lagares, who have been logging time in right field in his place.
Jun 5 2022Ward was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a right hamstring strain, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He suffered the injury in Friday's game, and it appears that the issue is more serious than the team originally let on. Jo Adell was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Ward will be eligible to return June 14.
Jun 4 2022Ward (hamstring) will be available off the bench if needed during Saturday's game against the Phillies, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward is out of the lineup for Saturday's matchup after exiting Friday's loss to Philadelphia due to right hamstring tightness. However, he said prior to Saturday's game that his hamstring is feeling better, so he should be available as a reserve. Although Juan Lagares is starting in right field Saturday, it appears likely that Ward will avoid a trip to the injured list.
Jun 3 2022Ward left Friday's game against the Phillies with right hamstring tightness. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He made a diving attempt in the outfield and chased down the ball before throwing it into the infield and it seems he tweaked his hamstring at some point during that play. As it is just being labeled tightness and not a strain, Ward should be considered day-to-day for now.
May 29 2022Ward (shoulder) went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI, two total runs scored and a walk in Sunday's 11-10 loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was limited to one game as the designated hitter while dealing with a shoulder injury that kept him out for much of the last week. He was back in right field Sunday, and he was able to make an impact with a two-run homer in the fourth inning and an RBI double in the sixth. The 28-year-old is up to a .359/.472/.709 slash line with 10 homers, 26 RBI, 29 runs scored, a stolen base, seven doubles and two triples through 142 plate appearances this year. He's regularly hit leadoff when healthy, so he should continue to be in a prime run-scoring position as long as he doesn't suffer any injury setbacks.
May 28 2022Ward (shoulder) will sit Saturday against the Blue Jays, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward served as the designated hitter Friday after sitting for the previous five games due to a shoulder issue. He's yet to be cleared to throw, and the designated hitter spot is blocked again Saturday with Shohei Ohtani returning from a brief absence due to back stiffness, so Ward may continue to sit for the next few days until he's ready to take the field. Juan Lagares will start in right field.
May 27 2022Ward (shoulder) is batting leadoff as the designated hitter Friday against the Blue Jays, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old entered as a pinch hitter Thursday after Shohei Ohtani was removed with back stiffness, and Ohtani is out of the lineup Friday. Ward said he feels "marginally better" but has yet to be cleared to throw, so it seems unlikely he'll be able to play the field in the immediate future. Ward should remain the Angels' DH until Ohtani is able to rejoin the lineup.
May 26 2022Ward (shoulder) will be unable to play in the outfield until at least Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has been out of the lineup for the last five games, but the team is resistant to putting him on the injured list because he is capable of pinch-hitting. The primary issue is Ward's fit in the lineup while he cannot play defense, as Shohei Ohtani occupies the designated hitter role. Per Sam Blum of The Athletic, Ward did not make progress Thursday and is not currently throwing in any capacity.
May 25 2022Ward (shoulder/neck) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old had an MRI come back clean Tuesday but has yet to be cleared to throw or play the field, as he could worsen the injury. Ward didn't appear in Tuesday's contest but was reportedly available to pinch hit, and the same figures to be true Wednesday. According to Blum, manager Joe Maddon said Ward is feeling about 10 percent better than Tuesday. With Shohei Ohtani a staple of the lineup at designated hitter regardless of whether or not he's pitching, Ward could be limited to bench duties for the near future if the Angels opt to keep him on the active roster.
May 24 2022Ward had an MRI on his neck and shoulder come back clean Tuesday and is available to pinch hit against the Rangers, though he hasn't been cleared to throw and cannot yet play the field, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward is out of the lineup for the third straight game Tuesday since crashing into the outfield wall Friday, and he's not dealing with structural damage in his neck or shoulder. However, the injury could apparently still get worse by throwing and playing the field, per Sam Blum of The Athletic. For most teams Ward would be able to shift to designated hitter while going through his recovery, but Shohei Ohtani is locked in at the position for the Angels. It remains to be seen how manager Joe Maddon and the team handle the situation from here, but Ward's opportunities may be limited for at least the immediate future.
May 22 2022Ward will receive an MRI on his shoulder and neck area Monday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has missed the last two games after colliding with the outfield wall Friday, and he said Sunday that he's still experiencing some weakness in his right shoulder. However, he said that Monday's MRI is precautionary, and he's optimistic that he'll be able to play Tuesday against the Rangers.
May 21 2022Ward (arm) will not start Saturday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward exited Friday's game after crashing into the right-field wall, but he avoided a concussion and is merely dealing with a stinger in his arm. He'll miss at least one game but doesn't appear to be in line for a lengthy absence, though the Angels could still elect to sit him Sunday in order to take advantage of Monday's scheduled off day and give him three full days to rest. Tyler Wade will start in right field Saturday.
May 20 2022Ward was removed from Friday's game against the Athletics in the top of the ninth inning with an apparent injury after running into the wall in right field, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was examined by a trainer for a few minutes after making a difficult catch in right field, but he was ultimately removed from the game with an undisclosed injury. Prior to his departure, he went 1-for-4 with a double and a run. If the 28-year-old is forced to miss any time, Tyler Wade could see additional work in the outfield.
May 18 2022Ward went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward got the Angels offense going in the contest, launching a 419-foot solo shot to center field in the third inning. The long ball was his fourth in 14 contests this month and extended his on-base streak to 25 games. Ward has been among baseball's most pleasant surprises this season, slashing .376/.484/.733 with nine homers, 23 RBI, 26 runs and a stolen base across 122 plate appearances.
May 14 2022Ward went 3-for-3 with a grand slam, double, two walks and an additional run and RBI in a 9-1 win over Oakland in Game 2 of a doubleheader Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward walked in the first inning, crushed a grand slam in the second, doubled in the fifth, singled home a run in the sixth and walked again in the eighth in another outburst in what has already been a sensational opening to the season. The 28-year-old upped his line to .384/.505/.744 -- all of which would lead the league if Ward had enough plate appearances to qualify -- with eight home runs and an equal 21 walks and strikeouts.
May 12 2022Ward (hamstring) entered Wednesday's 4-2 extra-inning loss to the Rays as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old was expected to re-enter the starting lineup Friday after missing the first two games of the series against Tampa Bay with hamstring tightness, but he got an early jump on his return by blasting a game-tying homer off Andrew Kittredge in the eighth. Ward has been a revelation so far this season, slashing .367/.490/.709 with seven home runs and 17 RBI in 98 plate appearances.
May 11 2022Ward (hamstring), who is on the bench for Wednesday's series finale against the Rays, said he will "absolutely" be back in the lineup for Friday's game in Oakland, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward will sit out his third straight game Wednesday, but he noted that he's 100 percent recovered from the sore hamstring and is likely just sitting as a matter of precaution. Assuming he comes out of Thursday's team off day no worse for the wear, Ward should be in line to play in at least three of the Angels' four games in Oakland this weekend.
May 10 2022Ward (hamstring) who isn't starting Tuesday's game against the Rays, said he feels much better and will be available off the bench, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old sat out Monday's contest due to hamstring tightness and will sit again Tuesday as a precaution, and the outfielder stressed there's "no chance" of him landing on the injured list. Ward could be back in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale, while Jack Mayfield starts in his place Tuesday in right field.
May 9 2022Ward won't play Monday against the Rays due to a tight hamstring, though he expects to return Tuesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has had a fantastic start to the season, hitting .64/.490/.675 with six homers in 22 games. It's certainly worrisome for the Angels to see a player like that get injured, but the good news is that it appears to be a minor problem and is unrelated to the groin injury that cause him to miss the start of the season. Jack Mayfield will start in right field in his absence.
May 4 2022Ward went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run after he entered Wednesday's win over the Angels as a pinch hitter. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was not in the lineup Wednesday, but he entered the contest as a pinch hitter for Brandon Marsh in the top of the ninth inning. He struck out in his first at-bat but went deep in next one in the top of the 10th frame, launching a two-run shot off Matt Barnes to give the Angels a 6-4 lead. He is now up to five home runs on the season. Over his last 10 games Ward has been red-hot, going 15-for-38 with eight extra-base hits and 12 RBI over that stretch.
May 2 2022Ward went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs in Sunday's 6-5 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward led off for the seventh straight game and has now notched at least one hit in each one of those contests. Since he moved into the leadoff role, the 28-year-old is slashing .448/.484/1.000 with four homers, two doubles, a triple, 11 RBI and 10 runs scored. Ward has registered a superb 1.271 OPS across 67 plate appearances overall this season.
Apr 25 2022Ward went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three total RBI in Monday's 3-0 win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Angels placed Ward in the leadoff spot for the first time this season and moved Shohei Ohtani -- who had batted first in each of the team's first 16 games -- into the No. 2 slot for Monday's contest. The move paid big dividends, as Ward produced all of the game's offense with long balls off Shane Bieber in the fifth and seventh innings. The homers were the second and third of the season for Ward, who didn't play his first game of the campaign until April 16. Manager Joe Maddon suggested before the game that Ward would be given a "real look" in the leadoff spot, per Trent Rush of Angels Radio Network, and his performance Monday only strengthens the likelihood that he'll see plenty of time in that role moving forward.
Apr 16 2022Ward went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a stolen base and two walks Saturday in a 7-2 victory against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was activated from the injured list earlier in the day and found himself immediately thrust into the lineup as the Angels' cleanup hitter. The move paid dividends for the club, as the outfielder reached base four times and launched a ninth-inning 424-foot solo shot to cap the scoring. Ward is expected to be Los Angeles' primary right fielder now that he is healthy, though he'll likely give way to Brandon Marsh and possibly Jo Adell on occasion.
Apr 14 2022Ward (groin) is on track to return Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was placed on the injured list due to a groin strain on Opening Day, and he'll be sidelined for just a day longer than the minimum. The Angels are employing a rotation of Jo Adell, Brandon Marsh and Jose Rojas in the corner outfield spots, though manager Joe Maddon noted that Ward would have an everyday role in right field upon his return, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register.
Apr 11 2022The Angels expect Ward (groin) to be activated from the injured list when first eligible this weekend, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward is on the injured list with a strained left groin to begin the season, but he's expected to spend only the 10-day minimum on the shelf. Manager Joe Maddon previously said the 28-year-old was slated to be the everyday starter in right field prior to the injury, so Ward could be a lineup regular once cleared for his season debut.
Apr 8 2022Angels manager Joe Maddon said Thursday that Ward was ticketed for an everyday spot in right field before injuring his groin at the end of spring training, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was initially expected to platoon in the corner outfield spots with Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh, but Maddon clarified Thursday that Adell and Marsh were slated to platoon in left field while Ward was targeted to play every day in right. That plan was halted to kick off the campaign by Ward's groin strain and subsequent placement on the 10-day IL, but there's still a chance the vision could play out upon his return. Notably, Adell was given a day off Friday while Marsh manned left field and Jose Rojas started in right. Ward helped earn a roster spot with a strong showing in Cactus League play, slashing .289/.341/.579 with three home runs and 11 RBI.
Apr 7 2022Ward's placement on the 10-day injured list Wednesday was due to a left groin strain, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward sustained an injury in Tuesday's exhibition against the Dodgers and will be forced to miss time to begin the regular season. It's not yet clear when the 28-year-old will be back in action, but Jose Rojas has won a bench role on the Opening Day roster.
Apr 3 2022Ward (undisclosed) is starting in right field and batting fifth in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was scratched from Saturday's lineup for unspecified reasons but will quickly return to the field Sunday. The 28-year-old is set to operate as the Angels' fourth outfielder to begin the season and should see more opportunities after Justin Upton was designated for assignment.
Apr 2 2022Ward was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Cubs for undisclosed reasons. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: More at-bats are available for Ward in the outfield this season, as the Angels designated Justin Upton for assignment Saturday. It's unclear if Ward was scratched due to an injury which will prevent him from claiming those opportunities early in the season or if he's merely dealing with a day-to-day issue.
Oct 3 2021The Angels placed Ward (hip) on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a right adductor strain. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As expected, Ward is out for the last game of the regular season due to his hip strain. He finished 2021 hitting .250/.332/.438 with eight home runs and 33 RBI in 237 plate appearances.
Sep 30 2021Ward (hip) won't be available for the final series of the season this weekend against the Mariners after exiting Thursday's game against the Rangers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was removed from Thursday's contest with right abductor tightness and will be sidelined for the final three games of 2021. The 27-year-old will finish the year having appeared in 65 games for the Angels and hitting .250/.332/.438 with eight home runs, 15 doubles, 33 RBI and 33 runs scored.
Sep 29 2021Ward was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake and is starting Wednesday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward slashed .423/.559/.808 with two home runs, four doubles, 10 runs, five RBI and a stolen base across his last seven appearances at Salt Lake, and he'll rejoin the major-league roster late in the regular season. The 27-year-old will start in center field and bat sixth Wednesday.
Jul 30 2021Ward exited Thursday's game at Triple-A Salt Lake with a non-displaced left rib fracture, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward suffered the injury on a swing, and he was replaced by a pinch hitter. The 27-year-old had gone 10-for-23 with two home runs, five doubles, five runs, five RBI and a stolen base in six games since he returned to the minors, but he doesn't yet have a timetable to return.
Jul 22 2021Ward was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward had been out of the lineup in two of the last five games, but he was still relatively effective and went 5-for-11 with a home run, two doubles, three RBI and three runs across his last four appearances. He'll return to the minors after Justin Upton (back) was reinstated from the injured list Thursday, and Adam Eaton could see increased playing time in right field going forward.
Jul 19 2021Ward isn't starting Monday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward went 4-for-7 with a home run, two doubles, three runs and three RBI across the last two games, and he'll get a breather for Monday's series opener. Phil Gosselin will start in left field while Adam Eaton serves as the starting right fielder.
Jul 18 2021Ward went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 9-4 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward took Yusei Kikuchi deep in the fifth inning to extend the Angels' lead. In addition, he doubled in the third frame and scored after a single in the eighth. It was a big game for Ward after having just four hits in July prior to Saturday. The 27-year-old is slashing .239/.320/.426 with eight home runs, 31 RBI and 30 runs in 223 plate appearances.
Jul 16 2021Ward isn't starting Friday's game against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward had started in each of the five games leading up to the All-Star break and went 1-for-19 with two runs and nine strikeouts. Adam Eaton will make his Angels debut in right field while Phil Gosselin starts in left.
Jul 6 2021Ward (finger) is starting in right field and batting seventh Tuesday against the Red Sox, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was originally out of the lineup and was expected to be available off the bench Tuesday, but he's apparently feeling well enough to enter the starting nine after missing one game with the finger issue. The 27-year-old is 7-for-16 with three doubles, an RBI, two runs and two walks in his past seven games.
Jul 5 2021Ward (finger) is not in the lineup Monday against the Red Sox, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old will be held out after exiting Sunday's game against the Orioles with an injury to his right index finger, though the injury isn't believed to be a serious issue. Ward should be considered day-to-day as he continues to be evaluated.
Jul 4 2021Ward (finger) may be unavailable for Monday's game against the Red Sox but isn't believed to be dealing with a serious injury, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward's right index finger is being examined after he left Sunday's win over the Blue Jays in the bottom of the sixth inning, but manager Joe Maddon didn't sound too concerned about the outfielder's status after the game. The 27-year-old should be considered day-to-day for now.
Jul 3 2021Ward isn't starting Saturday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has recorded hits in each of his last four appearances, and he went 6-for-14 with three doubles, two runs, an RBI and two walks during that time. Luis Rengifo will take his place in right field and bat eighth.
Jun 28 2021Ward will sit Monday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward finds himself on the bench for the first time in three weeks. He's hit a solid .250/.338/.456 since his last time out of the lineup. Scott Schebler and Luis Rengifo will handle the outfield corners in his absence.
Jun 19 2021Ward went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, a run and three RBI in a victory over the Tigers on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward knocked in a run with a third-inning double then plated two more with another double in the sixth. In doing so, he extended his current hit streak to eight games, during which he is slashing .375/.459/.594 with four doubles, one homer, nine RBI and six runs. With Mike Trout (calf) projected to be out until after the All-Star break, Ward should continue to see plenty of starts in the outfield. If he continues to swing a hot bat, he could cement a starting role over fellow outfielder Juan Lagares after Trout returns to action.
Jun 18 2021Ward went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Thursday's win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward extended his hitting streak to seven games and snapped a seven-game homer drought with his seventh-inning blast off Kyle Funkhouser. Ward now has seven homers on the season and has been one of the Angels' most reliable offensive threats over the last few weeks. He's hitting .280 with a .868 OPS this month.
Jun 14 2021Ward went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's 10-3 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward notched his second straight multi-hit game after he singled and scored in the second and later led off the sixth with a double before scoring his second run of the day. He also didn't strike out, which is encouraging considering he had been punched out 15 times over his last 10 games coming into Sunday. Overall, the 27-year-old is slashing .237/.318/.439 with six home runs, 19 RBI, 20 runs scored and a stolen base in 130 plate appearances.
Jun 9 2021Ward went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 8-1 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward took Josh Staumont deep in the eighth inning to extend the Angels' lead. The 27-year-old has two long balls in his last four games. However, he has struggled getting on base at times, slashing .224/.300/.439 in 111 plate appearances. He's struck out 27 percent of the time, which is not good, but it's also the lowest rate of his career.
Jun 7 2021Ward is out of the lineup Monday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has an .829 OPS over his past seven contests but will take a seat for Monday's matchup with Kansas City. Kean Wong will start in right field for the Halos.
Jun 5 2021Ward went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, an additional run and two strikeouts as Los Angeles defeated Seattle 12-5 Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward singled and scored in the fifth inning before smashing a fifth inning two-run home run to give the Angels the lead. This was Ward's second two-hit game in the last week and his averaged has increased from .205 to .231 in that span.
Jun 4 2021Ward isn't in the lineup Friday against the Mariners, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward will get a breather after he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Thursday's series opener. Jose Rojas will start in right field and bat sixth.
May 29 2021Ward will sit Saturday against Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward sits for just the second time in 24 games since getting called up in early May. His regular role is more a function of the Angels' lack of alternatives than of his own talent, however, as he's hitting just .205/.263/.411 on the year. Jose Rojas starts in right field in his absence.
May 27 2021Ward went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run, a double and two additional RBI in Wednesday's win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward launched a three-run shot in the bottom of the first inning, but his strong day wouldn't stop there. as he also added a two-run RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Juan Lagares and Jose Rojas on both occasions. Ward has four homers on the season and has been seeing the ball well of late, as he has recorded hits in five of his last six contests.
May 22 2021Ward will sit Saturday against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward started 17 straight games after getting called up in early May. He hasn't exactly hit well enough to earn an everyday role, posting a .200/.262/.400 slash line through 62 plate appearances. Jose Rojas will be the right fielder in his absence.
May 20 2021Ward went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in a 7-1 win over Minnesota in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder went deep with his third homer of the year in the fifth inning to pad the Angels' lead. Ward has added seven RBI, seven runs scored and a double across 55 plate appearances. His slash line is a poor .188/.259/.396, but the 27-year-old earned some extra job security when Mike Trout (calf) was ruled out until July.
May 11 2021Ward went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the Angles' 5-1 loss to the Astros on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward hit a solo home run in the eighth inning off Lance McCullers for the Angels only run of the night. In addition, he tallied two of the team's three hits. The 27-year-old may be a sneaky call-up for the Angels, hitting two homers and four RBI in seven games this season. He has filled in well in the outfield while others deal with injuries. He is only batting .217 right now, but it is a small sample size and he hit .277 through 102 plate appearances in 2020.
May 8 2021Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday in the Angels' 9-2 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward homered off Julio Urias as a part of a four-run second inning. The home run was Ward's first hit this season. He's started in three games since getting called up May 5. The 27-year-old is a primary fill-in for the Angels while they deal with multiple injuries. Albert Pujols being designated for assignment may open up a more long-term spot on the roster for Ward.
May 5 2021Ward was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday and is starting in right field against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old missed the Opening Day roster and will join the Angels for the first time this season. Ward posted a .277/.333/.383 slash line in 102 plate appearances for the Halos during 2020.
Mar 25 2021Ward was optioned to minor-league camp Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward is capable of playing all over the field, including both corner infield and outfield as well as catcher. However, that defensive versatility was not enough for him to make the Opening Day roster. On the other hand, it should help him return to the big leagues at some point in the 2021 season should the team need depth due to injury or poor performance.
Mar 7 2021Ward started behind the plate in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Mariners, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward isn't entirely new to the backstop position -- he was drafted as a catcher in 2015 and began his minor-league career at the position -- but he hasn't seen time behind the plate in a professional game since 2017. The positional flexibility could help Ward stick in the big leagues and earn additional playing time. However, he has struggled at the plate thus far in spring training, collecting only one hit (a home run) in nine at-bats.
Feb 18 2021Ward has been getting work in at catcher in Angels camp, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was drafted as a catcher in 2015, but he subsequently shifted to third base and is now tabbed to get most of his playing time in the outfield. Though the 27-year-old is unlikely to spend much time behind the plate in the regular season, manager Joe Maddon indicated that his value to the team will increase if he proves capable of catching. As it stands, Ward appears headed for a reserve role to begin the campaign.
Sep 23 2020Ward went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs Tuesday in the Angels' 4-2 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has been one of the Angels' hottest hitters in September, slashing .422/.469/.600 with seven extra-base hits in 45 at-bats on the month. He'll hit seventh in Wednesday's series finale and will man right field, where he's overtaken the struggling Jo Adell as the Angels' primary option.
Sep 20 2020Ward will start in right field and will bat seventh Sunday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has seemingly displaced Jo Adell as the Angels' top right fielder, as the former picks up his fourth straight start while the latter is on the bench again. Adell remains a bigger part of the Angels' long-term future, but Ward's hot finish to 2020 could put him in the mix for a spot on the Los Angeles roster next season. Through 13 games in September, Ward has gone 16-for-35 (.457 average) with five doubles, one triple, seven runs, three RBI and two stolen bases.
Sep 17 2020Ward went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base during the Angels' 7-3 Thursday afternoon victory over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old is 10-for-19 over his previous seven games with two stolen bases. Ward is a candidate to see an increase in at-bats should the Angels officially fall out of the playoff picture.
Sep 3 2020Ward was recalled by the Angels on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward spent several weeks at the Angels' alternate training site after seeing limited playing time during his first stint with the team. However, he'll return to the major-league club to take the place of David Fletcher (ankle), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday. Ward hit just .147/.216/.206 over 37 plate appearances to begin the season.
Aug 18 2020Ward was optioned to the Angels' alternate training site Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The utility man didn't do much with his sporadic playing time this season, hitting .147/.216/.206 over 37 plate appearances. Jaime Barria was called up in a corresponding move.
Aug 16 2020Ward got an "extensive" workout at first base Sunday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times of reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward has spent most of his time in the outfield this season, but the Angels may be looking to try him out at first base more often given Albert Pujols' slow start and the team's lack of depth at the position. Pujols has been out of the starting lineup each of the previous two games for the Halos, with Tommy La Stella -- who typically starts at second base -- taking over at first. Ward could benefit from any decrease in Pujols' playing time, though the former has had his own struggles this season, slashing a meek .147/.216/.206.
Jul 23 2020Ward is included on the Angels' 30-man roster. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Ward is not the primary or backup option at any particular position, his versatility could prove valuable given the uncertain nature of the 2020 campaign. Most importantly, the 26-year-old is capable of playing catcher, allowing the Angels to carry him as a contingency option behind Jason Castro and Max Stassi.
Apr 17 2020Ward's path to making the Angels' Opening Day roster is as a corner outfielder, but he would be the team's third catcher if he does break camp with Los Angeles, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange Country Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward performed well in Cactus League play, posting a .308/.357/.538 slash line with one home run and four RBI. That has given a boost to his chances of making the Opening Day roster, though Michael Hermosillo's strong spring (.450/.476/.850, two home runs) could block Ward from claiming a backup spot in the outfield. Still, it's too early to count Ward out completely given his ability to play catcher -- he logged 153 games at the position in the minors between 2016 and 2017 -- and the possibility of expanded rosters to begin the 2020 campaign.
Mar 23 2020Ward enjoyed a strong spring but was likely surpassed by Michael Hermosillo in a competition for one of the final spots on the Angels' Opening Day roster, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Walsh performed well in Cactus League play -- he batted .308 with one home run, four RBI and a .896 OPS -- he was outshone by Hermosillo, who hit .450 with a pair of homers, seven RBI, two stolen bases and a 1.326 OPS. That has given Hermosillo a leg up in a bid for a big-league roster spot as an extra outfielder, especially when considering his superior defense. If Hermosillo does in fact break camp with the Angels, Ward is likely to open the season back with Triple-A Salt Lake.
Sep 26 2019Ward went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss to Oakland on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward plated the Angels' first run with a shot to center field in the first inning. The homer was his first this season and seventh in his career. Since being called up to the big club on Sept. 1, Ward is slashing .217/.280/.391 with 10 strikeouts in 25 plate appearances.
Sep 18 2019Ward did not travel with the team Sunday due to illness but is back in the lineup at DH Wednesday, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The illness explains why Ward was out of the lineup in the opener of the three-game series against the Yankees on Tuesday. Fortunately, the 25-year-old has joined the team in New York and is batting seventh Wednesday. Ward is slashing .111/.200/.222 with 10 strikeouts in 20 major-league plate appearances this season.
Sep 13 2019Ward's defensive struggles have led the Angels to play him in left field, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ward was drafted as a catcher in 2015 but struggled both defensively and offensively while playing behind the plate. The Angels tried him at third base last season, and while his offense improved, he struggled defensively at the hot corner during spring training and a brief callup to the majors early this season. A move to the outfield followed, and Ward has stuck there since, describing the position as "very comfortable." The 25-year-old came on as a defensive replacement in left field Wednesday and made his first major-league start there Thursday, handling the position without difficulty. He figures to get more playing time in the outfield moving forward, particularly with Justin Upton battling a knee issue and Mike Trout missing multiple games with an ailing toe.
Sep 1 2019The Angels recalled Ward from Triple-A Salt Lake ahead of Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.
Jul 25 2019Ward was optioned<\/a> to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 23 2019Ward was recalled<\/a> from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 6 2019Ward was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 3 2019Ward was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake<\/a> on Monday and will hit eighth and play third base<\/a> against the Cubs.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 6 2019Ward was returned to Triple-A Salt Lake<\/a> on Sunday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 6 2019Ward was returned to Triple-A Salt Lake<\/a> on Sunday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 6 2019Ward was returned to Triple-A Salt Lake<\/a> on Sunday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 4 2018Ward (finger) is 2-for-8 with a walk and two singles in two games with Triple-A Salt Lake.Ward is back in action after spending nearly two weeks on the minor-league disabled list due to a cut on his finger. The 23-year-old was hitting an impressive .345/.453/.520 through 42 games with Double-A Mobile prior to landing on the disabled list, prompting the Angels to send him to the Bees upon his return. Ward will look to keep things rolling at the plate in his first taste of Triple-A.
May 22 2018Ward was placed on the minor-league disabled list due to a cut on his finger, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.Ward cut his finger packing and will spend some time on the shelf to allow the issue to heal. He was hitting .345/.453/.520 across 42 games with Double-A Mobile prior to suffering the injury. With little left to prove at Double-A, Ward is expected to report to Triple-A Salt Lake once he's activated from the disabled list.
Apr 23 2018Ward has made all 12 of his starts in the field with Double-A Mobile this season at third base, as the Angels have seemingly moved on from developing the 24-year-old as a catcher, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.Along with Ward, a 2015 first-round selection, draft classmate Jahmai Jones also changed positions this spring, shifting from center field to second base. Angels general manager Billy Eppler said that the organization elected to move Ward from behind the plate not because of his defensive shortcomings there, but rather out of a belief that his agility and explosiveness would make him a better fit at an infield spot. The early results of the position change haven't been encouraging for the 24-year-old, who has already committed four errors and sports an .840 fielding percentage. The transition at least hasn't affected Ward at the dish, as he has submitted a .392/.492/.569 slash line across 63 plate appearances.
Feb 6 2018Ward will attend the Angels' spring training as a non-roster invitee, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.Ward missed the start of the 2017 season to an oblique injury, but managed to put together a respectable year at High-A Inland Empire and Double-A Mobile. Between the two he combined to hit .258/.368/.390 over 87 games. His patience at the plate stood out, as he drew 57 walks while striking out just 60 times.