ANAHEIM — Angels right-hander Ben Joyce still brings a 100 mph fastball out of the bullpen, but he’s looking more like a pitcher in his second stint with the major league club.
Mainly, he’s learned the importance of mental preparedness and consistency.
“Just, everyday, showing up and just putting your best stuff out there everyday, no matter how your body feels,” Joyce said before the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Houston Astros on Friday night. “It’s a longer season, so it’s just consistently taking a recovery (day) and scouting reports and all that stuff seriously.”
Joyce, 23, was recalled from Double-A Rocket City on Sunday and made his season debut on Wednesday in the eighth inning against the visiting San Diego Padres.
The third-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft surrendered a leadoff single to Fernando Tatís Jr. before retiring the next three batters to preserve the one-run lead in an eventual 3-2 victory, which completed the first home sweep of the season for the Angels.
Joyce averaged 101.8 mph on his fastballs, topping out at 103.3. He generated four whiffs, though he didn’t record a strikeout.
“I was really impressed because he didn’t back down,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He went out the other day and he used his power.”
Washington said the next step for Joyce will be learning how to get hitters out without throwing the ball as hard as he can.
“Even though he throws the ball over 100 mph, big leaguers can still hit that,” Washington said. “He’s got to figure out ways to use (his fastball). I’m more than certain that’s what they did down in the minor leagues with him.”
Joyce faced the Astros in the second and third games of his MLB career last season, allowing two runs and four hits in two innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
INJURY UPDATES
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon took another step toward his return from a torn left hamstring.
On Friday afternoon, he took ground balls off the bat for the first time since he was injured while sprinting to first base on May 20, but Washington said he’s still not close to being in game condition.
“At least he’s on the field doing baseball activities,” Washington said.
The next hurdle for Rendon will be moving laterally for ground balls. Rendon also told reporters earlier in the week that he planned to jog the bases before Saturday’s game.
“Most of that is going to be determined if Rendon feels he can do that,” Washington said. “Right now, we’re just trying to get him the feel of getting balls off the bat and using his feet and hands.”
Meanwhile, infielder Brandon Drury is close to beginning a rehab stint.
Drury has been out since May 8 with a hamstring injury.
“We pushed him a little further than he has been (on Friday), and he certainly looked like he’s ready to go (on his rehab),” Washington said. “When we go on this next road trip, he’ll be out of here.”
MIXED RESULTS
Over the past five seasons, the Angels had seen the best and the worst of Astros left-hander Framber Valdez, who was on the mound for the series opener on Friday.
The Angels lit up the two-time American League All-Star for eight runs in a 9-7 win in Houston on May 20, tying a career worst that Valdez previously set in a 9-5 loss against the Angels on Sept. 6, 2020 in Anaheim.
He was nearly unhittable in two of his three starts against the Angels last season, however, throwing seven shutout innings in one outing and allowing one run over eight innings (12 strikeouts) in another.
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Taylor Ward entered Friday 14 for 28 in his career against Valdez with a double and a triple. Jo Adell had two doubles, a triple and a homer among his six hits off Valdez, and both of Zach Neto’s hits against Valdez cleared the outfield wall.
“He’s a very good pitcher and he’s faced us quite a bit of times,” Neto said. “So, just being able to stick to our approach at the plate, make sure we get a good pitch to hit and make sure we don’t miss it.”
Washington said the Angels need to be ready to see a different pitcher than they saw 2½ weeks ago.
“If he changes something, we’ve got to make an adjustment. That’s what it’s about, adjustments and readjustments,” Washington said. “We can look at all the film we want, but if he decides to make an adjustment out there, we have to make an adjustment.”
UP NEXT
Astros (RHP Hunter Brown, 1-5, 6.18 ERA) at Angels (LHP Tyler Anderson, 5-5, 2.37 ERA), Saturday, 7:07 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
