A Hot Streak Would Help Angels Keep Pace In West

It’s no time to panic. Not now, not yet.

That’s the mindset in the Anaheim Angels clubhouse, even though they went into Thursday’s game five games behind in the A.L. West.

The Angels have hovered around the .500 mark all season. They haven’t been more than three games over .500 and haven’t been more than two games below .500. They’ve stayed close to the top of the division until a recent hot streak by the A’s. Only a week ago, Anaheim was 2 games out.

The Angels have not lost more than three games in a row this season, but they also haven’t won more than three in a row. In order to make a run at Oakland and Seattle, the Angels know they have to put together a significant winning streak. But when?

“I don’t think there’s a sense of urgency,” left fielder Darin Erstad said. “If you’ve watched us play enough, you know we haven’t clicked as a whole like Seattle and Oakland. We’re confident that’s coming soon, and it would be better now than later. When we do that, we’re going to win a lot of ballgames.”

Not ready yet

With all the shuffling of pitchers between Triple-A Edmonton and the Angels’ big-league club this season, one pitcher has been absent.

Ramon Ortiz began the season in the starting rotation and went 2-2 with a 6.90 ERA in six starts. Because of his inconsistency and lack of command of his pitches, he was sent to Edmonton on May 10. Even though he’s been working on correcting his problems for nearly six weeks, he’s not ready to come back.