The 2022 Los Angeles Angels season was the 62nd season of the Los Angeles Angels franchise in the American League, the 57th in Anaheim, and their 57th season playing their home games at Angel Stadium. The Angels were managed by Joe Maddon in his third season as manager of the Angels. On June 7, 2022, Maddon was fired and Phil Nevin was named the interim manager for the remainder of the season after they had lost twelve games in a row, tying a record set by the 1988 team. Losses on the 7th and 8th resulted in a losing streak of fourteen in a row, setting a franchise record. After a brawl occurred during a game between the Seattle Mariners and Angels on June 26 that saw players and coaches receive suspensions, Bill Haselman and Ray Montgomery each served as interim managers to the interim manager when Nevin received a ten-game suspension. The Angels play as members of Major League Baseball's American League West division. On September 14, the Angels lost their 82nd game to clinch a losing season for the seventh straight season, tying the mark set by the 1971-1977 teams. With their loss to the Seattle Mariners on September 19, the Los Angeles Angels were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
On December 2, 2021, Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred announced a lockout of players, following expiration of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). On March 10, 2022, MLB and the MLBPA agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement, thus ending the lockout. Opening Day was played on April 7. Although MLB previously announced that several series would be cancelled due to the lockout, the agreement provides for a 162-game season, with originally canceled games to be made up via doubleheaders.
Joining PBP man Matt Vasgersian this season for broadcasts on Bally Sports West is Patrick O'Neal on his first season as alternative team PBP announcer. Because both the Mariners and the Philadelphia Phillies made the playoffs for the first time in 21 and 11 years, respectively, the Angels now co-hold MLB's longest active playoff drought with the Tigers. Both the Angels and the Tigers have not made the playoffs since 2014.
Offseason
Lockout
The expiration of the league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Major League Baseball Players Association occurred on December 1, 2021, with no new agreement in place. As a result, the team owners voted unanimously to lockout the players stopping all free agency and trades.
The parties came to an agreement on a new CBA on March 10, 2022.
Rule changes
Pursuant to the new CBA, several new rules were instituted for the 2022 season. The National League will adopt the designated hitter full-time, a draft lottery will be implemented, the postseason will expand from ten teams to twelve, and advertising patches will appear on player uniforms and helmets for the first time.
Opening Day lineup
The team opened the season with a 3–1 loss to the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium on April 7.
Regular season
April
The Angels opened the season on April 7 at home against the Houston Astros in front of a crowd of 44,723, losing 3–1 after Shohei Ohtani pitched 4.2 innings and gave up 1 run. The Angels won their first game of the season on April 9, a 2–0 win over Justin Verlander and the Astros with Noah Syndergaard earning the win in his team debut. The Angels had their first walk-off win on April 12 over the Miami Marlins with Tyler Wade scoring the winning run on a fielder's choice. During an April 20 game in Houston, the Angels scored six runs off Jake Odorizzi in the first inning and Ohtani carried a perfect game bid into the sixth inning. The win gave the Angels an early lead in the American League West standings. After losing their initial series to the Astros, the Angels won four out of their next five series in April, including a 4-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians in Anaheim. The Angels finished the month of April with a 14–8 record.
May
The Angels entered May leading the AL West by 2.5 games. On May 1, newcomer Michael Lorenzen pitched the longest outing of his career at 8.1 innings and nearly achieved a shutout before runs were allowed in the 9th inning. On May 4, the Angels completed an extra-innings comeback after Jared Walsh tied the game in the top of the 9th inning and the Angels scored six runs in the 10th.