Angels Pitching Shines, Offense Struggles in Cactus League Matchup

George Klassen, Sam Bachman impress on the mound, but Angels hitters rack up 14 strikeouts against Padres

Feb. 25, 2026 at 10:52pm

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In an early Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Angels saw strong pitching performances from George Klassen and Sam Bachman, but the team's offense struggled mightily, racking up 14 strikeouts across the lineup.

Why it matters

While Spring Training stats should be taken with a grain of salt, the Angels' offensive woes are a concerning trend, as the team led MLB in strikeouts last season. However, the strong outings from Klassen and Bachman provide hope that the pitching staff may be able to carry the team if the bats continue to underperform.

The details

Klassen, who is competing for the fifth starter role, mowed through the heart of the Padres lineup, going 1-2-3 in his first inning of work and reaching 98.1 mph on his fastball. Bachman, a bullpen or bust prospect, also had a clean inning with two strikeouts. On the offensive side, Christian Moore provided the biggest highlight with a home run off Padres pitcher Michael King. However, the rest of the Angels' starters combined for 14 strikeouts, including multiple Ks for Moore, Soler, and Adell.

  • The game took place on February 25, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona.

The players

George Klassen

A pitcher competing for the fifth starter role on the Angels roster, Klassen impressed with a dominant first inning against the Padres.

Christian Moore

An Angels infielder who hit a home run off Padres pitcher Michael King, providing one of the few offensive highlights for Los Angeles.

Sam Bachman

A pitching prospect in the Angels' system, Bachman had a clean inning with two strikeouts, continuing to make his case for a bullpen role.

Michael King

A Padres pitcher who was dealing until Christian Moore took him deep for the biggest Angels hit of the game.

Chris Cortez

A young Angels pitcher with a strong fastball but command issues, Cortez had a rough outing that is part of the growing process for him.

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What they’re saying

“13 pitches, 9 strikes. FB averaged 98.1 mph”

— Jeff Fletcher, Angels beat writer

“George Klassen, 91mph Slider ⚔️ and 99mph ⛽️”

— Rob Friedman

“first spring ball blast for CMo 💥”

— Los Angeles Angels

What’s next

The Angels will continue their Cactus League schedule, looking to build on the strong pitching performances while addressing the concerning offensive issues.

The takeaway

While early Spring Training results should be taken with caution, the Angels' pitching staff showed promising signs, led by George Klassen and Sam Bachman. However, the team's continued struggles at the plate, including a high number of strikeouts, remain a concern heading into the regular season.