15DBen Joyce RP LAA Fri 5/2/25 1:16 AM
15DBen Joyce
RP LAA
Angels manager Ron Washington described Joyce as "moving along, slowly" in his recovery from right shoulder inflammation, per MLB.com.
EDGE Analysis
Joyce has been on the injured list since April 11 due to the shoulder injury. Though the right-hander is technically eligible to be activated, it doesn't appear that he's close to a return. Joyce put up a 6.23 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 4.1 innings prior to getting hurt, but all three of the runs he allowed came in his final appearance before landing on the IL, and he notably experienced diminished velocity in that outing.
15DBen Joyce RP LAA Fri 4/11/25 4:20 PM
15DBen Joyce
RP LAA
The Angels placed Joyce (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
EDGE Analysis
Joyce is dealing with shoulder inflammation, which likely explains his noted drop in velocity earlier this week. Joyce expressed that he wasn't concerned following his Tuesday outing, in which he allowed one home run and three earned runs during his one inning of work. With Joyce headed to the IL, the Angels have recalled Michael Darrell-Hicks from the minors.
15DBen Joyce RP LAA Fri 4/11/25 1:00 AM
15DBen Joyce
RP LAA
Joyce said Wednesday that he's not concerned about the drop in velocity he experienced in his most recent outing Tuesday versus Tampa Bay, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
EDGE Analysis
Joyce displayed the lowest in-game velocity of his big-league career on both his sinker and four-seamer in the outing, during which he gave up three runs on four hits in one-third of an inning. However, the right-hander stated one day later that his location was the issue rather than his velocity. Angels manager Ron Washington seemed similarly unconcerned following Joyce's appearance, stating, "He was fine. He's human. Tonight he just didn't have it," per Fletcher. Fantasy managers who roster Joyce certainly hope that the right-hander's velocity is back to normal the next time he takes the mound, but for the time being, it appears the fireballer isn't dealing with any sort of injury.
15DBen Joyce RP LAA Wed 4/9/25 3:29 AM
15DBen Joyce
RP LAA
Joyce was charged with a blown save against Tampa Bay on Tuesday, allowing three runs on four hits while retiring just one batter.
EDGE Analysis
Joyce entered the contest in the seventh inning with the Angels ahead 2-0, and by the time he departed the Rays had taken a one-run lead. Joyce served up a Junior Caminero solo homer on his third pitch, and then gave up three more hits -- a single, a double and a triple -- to the next three batters, resulting in two more runs, before finally notching his first out. Notably, Joyce's sinker averaged just 93.5 mph in the outing, while his four-seamer averaged 99.3 mph -- both falling a couple ticks below his season average coming into Tuesday. There's been no indication that the righty is dealing with any sort of injury, but the velocity is worth keeping an eye on in Joyce's next outing.
15DBen Joyce RP LAA Tue 2/11/25 10:58 PM
15DBen Joyce
RP LAA
Joyce is unlikely to be the Angels' primary closer with the team's signing of Kenley Jansen (shoulder) on Monday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
EDGE Analysis
The Angels and Jansen agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract Monday, which DiGiovanna notes will likely give Joyce "another year to grow into [the] closer role." It wouldn't make much sense for Los Angeles to have signed Jansen for any other reason than to serve as the team's primary closer, as he currently sits first among active players -- and fourth all-time -- with 447 regular-season saves. While Jansen may be nearing the end of his storied career, he showed he still has gas left in the tank with his performance for Boston last year, which included a 3.29 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 28.4 percent strikeout rate and 27 saves. It's still likely that Joyce will get an occasional save opportunity, per Sam Blum of The Athletic, but at least for one season it appears he will be an understudy to Jansen, which cuts down Joyce's fantasy appeal in most formats considerably.
15DBen Joyce RP LAA Mon 2/3/25 1:43 AM
15DBen Joyce
RP LAA
Joyce is likely to open 2025 as the Angels' closer, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Joyce enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, posting a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB over 34.2 innings across 31 appearances. He worked his way up to a high-leverage role and recorded six holds and four saves over his final 18 appearances. The right-hander certainly has a closer-type stuff -- he recently said that he thinks he can top the 105.5 mph fastball he tossed against the Dodgers last year, per Bollinger -- and it appears he'll have the chance to begin 2025 in that role. The Angels don't have much in the way of closer-type arms to offer Joyce competition, so his biggest obstacle to success may be the shaky control he's demonstrated throughout his pro career.
15DBen Joyce RP LAA Sun 9/15/24 3:45 PM
15DBen Joyce
RP LAA
Angels manager Ron Washington confirmed Sunday that Joyce (shoulder) won't return from the 15-day injured list this season, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
EDGE Analysis
Joyce's placement on the IL is retroactive to Sept. 7, but the Angels won't rush him back for the final week of the season even though an MRI on his right shoulder returned clean. The hard-throwing right-hander has been diagnosed with an impingement in his right shoulder, but he should be in store for a normal offseason. Barring any high-profile additions to the bullpen this winter, Joyce will likely head into spring training as the favorite to open the 2025 campaign as the Angels' closer. After getting called up from the minors in early June, Joyce produced a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB over 34.2 innings while collecting two wins, eight holds and going 4-for-4 in save opportunities.
15DBen Joyce RP LAA Sat 9/14/24 6:47 PM
15DBen Joyce
RP LAA
Joyce was diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Joyce initially landed on the injured list Tuesday due to inflammation in his shoulder; however, his latest diagnosis increases the likelihood that the 23-year-old reliever will be held out for the remainder of the season. His return timeline remains unknown for now.
15DBen Joyce RP LAA Tue 9/10/24 4:24 PM
15DBen Joyce
RP LAA
The Angels placed Joyce on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Saturday, with right shoulder inflammation.
EDGE Analysis
It's not clear how long Joyce's shoulder has been bothering him, but he hadn't pitched in a week. Hunter Strickland and/or Roansy Contreras are candidates to pick up save chances while Joyce is out, although manager Ron Washington might not settle on one guy.
15DBen Joyce RP LAA Sun 9/1/24 11:29 PM
15DBen Joyce
RP LAA
Joyce allowed a hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners.
EDGE Analysis
Joyce's scoreless streak is up to seven innings over his last six appearances. In that span, he has three saves, a hold and a win while striking out eight and walking none. The flame-throwing right-hander is up to four saves and eight holds while pitching to a 2.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 31:14 K:BB through 33.2 innings in the majors this season.