CINCINNATI – In the long, storied history of the Los Angeles Angels franchise, names like Nolan Ryan, Jered Weaver, and Shohei Ohtani have defined excellence on the mound. On Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park, José Soriano etched his name alongside those legends, putting an exclamation point on a historic month of April. With a dominant seven-inning masterpiece against the Cincinnati Reds, Soriano became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to reach the four-win mark in 2026, leading the Halos to a 9-6 victory and a rare road series win.
Soriano (4-0) was nothing short of a force of nature. Facing a Reds lineup known for its aggressive baserunning and high-octane speed, the right-hander utilized a “power-and-precision” approach that left hitters looking baffled. He racked up 10 strikeouts over seven scoreless frames, surrendering just two hits and one walk. His signature sinker, which consistently touched 99 mph with late, tailing life, induced 11 groundball outs, effectively neutralizing the hitter-friendly dimensions of the Cincinnati ballpark.
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The historical significance of the outing is staggering. Soriano is the first Angels pitcher since Jered Weaver in 2011 to win his first four starts of a season. Even more impressive is the efficiency; by the time he handed the ball to the bullpen, Soriano had lowered his league-leading ERA to a microscopic 0.33. Through 27.1 innings this season, he has allowed only one earned run, a level of dominance that has catapulted him to the top of the early-season Cy Young conversation.
“I’ve seen a lot of young arms come through this league, but what José is doing right now is a different level of maturity,” manager Kurt Suzuki said following the win. “He’s not just throwing hard; he’s pitching. He’s tunneling his slider off that high-velocity sinker, and he’s trusting his defense. When you have a guy like that at the top of the rotation, it changes the energy of every single person in that dugout. You walk into the park knowing you have a chance to win.”
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For Soriano, the 2026 breakout is the culmination of years of mechanical refinement and a recovered health profile. After transitioning from a high-leverage reliever to a starter, he has found a rhythm that allows his elite stuff to play for multiple innings. As the Angels board their flight to New York, the “Soriano Statement” has been heard loud and clear: Anaheim has found its new ace.