Tyler Anderson struggling after leaving Dodgers was most predictable outcome ever

The Los Angeles Dodgers have historically been one of the best teams in MLB when it comes to maximizing players and finding hidden gems in unexpected places. In 2022, left-handed pitcher Tyler Anderson became the latest example of the team getting the most out of an under-the-radar asset.

Anderson started the year in the bullpen but was forced into the starting rotation because of injuries in April. By the time the rotation got healthy, it was impossible to remove him. Anderson became one of the most consistent arms on the team, finishing with a 2.57 ERA and 1.002 WHIP in 178.2 innings pitched during an All-Star campaign.

This earned Anderson a nice payday with the LA Angels -- a price the Dodger probably wouldn't have matched. The Halos signed Anderson to a three-year, $39 million contract after the Dodgers threw him the qualifying offer.

After a strong spring training, Anderson's success has not translated to Orange County. Anderson is sporting a 7.20 ERA after four starts with the Halos, allowing five or more runs in each of those outings.

Tyler Anderson's struggles after leaving Dodgers for Angels are incredibly predictable

History tends to repeat itself and this is another example of baseball history coming full circle. While the Dodgers are one of the best teams in the league in maximizing talent, the Angels have historically been a team that overpays for players to disappoint (hence why they haven't made the playoffs since 2014).

It's still an incredibly small sample size, but it's hard to believe in Anderson considering his career numbers and the fact he's doing even worse with a team that can't right the ship.

According to Baseball Savant, Anderson is in the bottom 19th percentile in expected batting average, bottom 25th percentile in expected slugging, and the bottom fifth percentile in strikeout rate. Yikes.

The Angels have at least one saving grace, and that's the fact that Noah Syndergaard hasn't been great for the Dodgers thus far. The two teams essentially swapped back-end rotation arms and neither have been particularly impressive. However, Syndergaard's 4.91 ERA is still better than Anderson's 7.20.

If anything, Anderson coming back down to earth should remind Dodgers fans that the team doesn't need to chase big names to be successful. This team can get the most out of pitchers that otherwise look replaceable when they are wearing a different uniform.