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Tyler Anderson leads Angels past Dodgers, Noah Syndergaard

March 28, 2023

The Angels’ Mike Trout gestures as he circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Angels’ Mike Trout connects with the ball for a two-run home run during the first inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, high-fives Mike Trout after Trout hit a two-run home run during the first inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Angels’ Mike Trout, left, is congratulated by teammates Taylor Ward, second from right, and Shohei Ohtani, right, after hitting a two-run home run as Dodgers catcher Will Smith stands at the plate during the first inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dodgers starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard throws to the plate during their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani avoids an inside pitch during the first inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani watches as he pops out during the first inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, left, goes after a foul ball hit by the Angels’ Taylor Ward as a fan tries to catch the ball with his hat during the first inning of the Freeway Series exhibition game on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers center fielder Trayce Thompson makes a catch on a ball hit by the Angels’ Matt Thaiss during the second inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dodgers center fielder Trayce Thompson leaps in front of the wall to catch a fly ball hit by the Angels’ Matt Thaiss during the second inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dodgers starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard throws to the plate during the first inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, center, is congratulated in the dugout after scoring on a Brandon Drury single during the third inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Angels’ Mike Trout breaks his bat as he grounds out during the fifth inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani runs to first for a single during the third inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dodgers second baseman Miguel Vargas gets set to tag out Angels pinch-runner Jeremiah Jackson on a stolen base attempt during the fifth inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Dodgers’ Luke Williams is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after he hit a solo home run during the eighth inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Angels relief pitcher César Valdez throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Angels relief pitcher Cesar Valdez throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, second from left, congratulates Brett Phillips, right, after the Angels defeated the Dodgers, 5-4, in their Freeway Series exhibition game on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani warms up in the on-deck circle before batting during the first inning of their Freeway Series exhibition game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Shohei Ohtani fans, from left, Harue Boyle, Sae Koines and Eriko Inoue hope to catch a glimpse of their favorite player before a Freeway Series exhibition game between the Angels and Dodgers on Monday at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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ANAHEIM ― Noah Syndergaard and Tyler Anderson arrived at Angel Stadium with similar goals Monday: to use their final exhibition start to prepare for a new season with a new team.

Coincidentally, each pitcher’s new team was the other’s old team. That familiarity seemed to benefit the Angels’ lineup more than the Dodgers’.

Syndergaard allowed five runs in five innings, including home runs by Mike Trout and Taylor Ward, in the Angels’ 5-4 victory. The right-hander allowed 11 runs across his final two spring training starts to finish with a 5.79 ERA.

“I feel like I’m really close,” Syndergaard said. “I’m tinkering with things every day just to see what works for me. I look at other pitchers and I see how their bodies move. Sometimes I’ll try to apply that to me, which doesn’t necessarily work for me. I watch a lot of video from 2019 and previous years, just trying to get to that comfort and those positions. At that point, I’ll have a lot of confidence and conviction.”

The Dodgers signed Syndergaard, 30, to a one-year, $13 million contract in December to effectively take Anderson’s spot in their starting rotation. After signing a $21 million free agent contract with the Angels a year ago, Syndergaard went 5-8 with a 3.83 ERA before he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at midseason. He then appeared in 14 games with the Phillies, who made a surprising run to the World Series.

When he signed with the Dodgers, Syndergaard expressed his desire to regain the triple-digit velocity that defined his career with the New York Mets, before Tommy John surgery wiped out nearly all of his 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Syndergaard only threw 10 four-seam fastballs among his 85 pitches against the Angels, touching 95 mph. His sinker touched 94 but also yielded some of the Angels’ hardest hits, including the 414-foot homer by Trout in the first inning.

“If I don’t throw 100 again, that’s fine,” Syndergaard said. “I’m not going out there trying to throw 100. I’m going out there trying to get outs. If I just trust my delivery, which I did for the most part tonight, I’ll be in pretty good position.”

Anderson limited the Dodgers to two runs in 5⅓ innings in his first home start as Angel, both coming on solo home runs by Mookie Betts and Miguel Vargas.

The left-hander, who enjoyed a career year with the Dodgers in 2022, walked one batter and struck out five. Anderson finished spring training with a 1.35 ERA in three starts, not including an exhibition game against the United States’ World Baseball Classic team in which he allowed four runs in two-plus innings.

“I feel good,” Anderson said. “I think I got enough innings out. I finally feel like I’m in a better spot with my delivery and kind of ready to go compete.”

Anderson and Syndergaard crossed paths in coincidental fashion.

Anderson rejected the Dodgers’ qualifying offer to sign a three-year, $39 million contract just down the 5 Freeway, while Syndergaard hand-picked the Dodgers for their reputation for rebuilding careers like Anderson’s.

Anderson is already earning the respect of his teammates, Manager Phil Nevin said.

“One thing about him is his leadership qualities to our other young lefties out there,” Nevin said. “He’s great by example for one, but he also kind of has just taken those guys under his wing, if you will. It’s about preparation, what he does leading up to his start. You can already see it. They all have been bonding together, they’ve been working together. If you notice when they come in from the bullpen, all the starters are together. I really like what that group is becoming. And he’s a big part of that. He’s kind of the leader of that pack.”

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The Dodgers used solo home runs by Chris Taylor and Luke Williams in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, to make the final score close. Right-hander Cesar Valdez closed the door with a perfect ninth inning.

Anthony Rendon went 3 for 3, and Brandon Drury, Shohei Ohtani and Taylor Ward each had two hits for the Angels.

Alex Vesia, Yency Almonte, Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol and Caleb Ferguson did not allow a run in relief of Syndergaard. Betts had two of the Dodgers’ eight hits.

Orange County Register

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Tyler Anderson leads Angels past Dodgers, Noah Syndergaard

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