José Soriano isn't just having a good start to the season for the Los Angeles Angels; he's authoring a historic opening chapter. Through his first five starts, the right-handed ace has transformed from a promising arm into a seemingly unstoppable force on the mound.
His latest masterpiece came Friday night, where he carved through the San Diego Padres' lineup with two-hit ball into the sixth inning, leading the Angels to an 8-0 victory and snapping the Padres' eight-game winning streak. The performance was a masterclass in dominance, a theme that has defined his 2024 campaign.
The numbers are staggering. Soriano boasts a microscopic 0.28 ERA, having allowed just one run all season—a solo homer to Atlanta's Drake Baldwin back on April 6. Since that blip, he's been virtually untouchable, racking up a 17-inning scoreless streak. He leads the majors with 39 strikeouts, and opposing hitters are batting a paltry .104 against him. With a 5-0 record, he's tied for the most wins in baseball.
This level of dominance places him in truly elite company. The last pitcher to allow one earned run or fewer in each of his first five starts (with at least 15 innings pitched) was Fernando Valenzuela during his iconic Cy Young rookie season in 1981. Before that, you have to go back to Walter Johnson in 1913. Soriano is also the only pitcher in MLB history to go at least five innings while yielding one or fewer earned runs and three or fewer hits in each of his first five starts.
"It's like a hot knife through butter," said Angels slugger Jo Adell, capturing the sheer ease with which Soriano has dismantled lineups. "He's doing what an ace does."
For his part, Soriano credits a simple formula: confidence and chemistry. "I believe in my catcher, and we’re on the same page," he said. "I think that’s a big part of the results we’re having."
While the season is still young, José Soriano has announced his arrival as one of the game's most electrifying pitchers. For Angels fans and baseball purists, watching him take the mound has become must-see entertainment.