The MLB regular season is now seven weeks in, and while it's still early, some teams have already made their presence known with hot starts. The Los Angeles Angels, unfortunately, haven't been among them—but a recent roster move has given fans a reason to pay attention.

The Angels recently welcomed veteran pitcher Alek Manoah back to the mound. After easing him into action against the Toronto Blue Jays—where he delivered a scoreless inning with one strikeout—the team now has a clear plan for his next outing on Monday against the Cleveland Guardians.

According to reports, the Angels will use an opener ahead of Manoah, turning to him shortly after the first inning. This strategy is part of a deliberate effort to gradually work Manoah back into a full-time rotation role. And it couldn't come at a better time—the Angels are sitting nine games below .500 and need all the help they can get.

Manoah hasn't pitched in the majors since the 2024 season. He showed promise in the minors in 2025 before an injury stalled his comeback. After stints with the Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves farm systems, he signed with the Angels in free agency this past offseason. A hand injury delayed his debut, but he's now ready for regular action.

The cautious approach makes sense. Manoah hasn't appeared in a big-league game since 2024, and while no one expects him to single-handedly transform the Angels' rotation, he has the pedigree to become a valuable contributor. During his time with Toronto, Manoah earned an All-Star selection and posted a standout 16-7 season in 2022, helping the Blue Jays secure a Wild Card berth.

Since that breakout year, however, consistency has been elusive. Over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he combined for a 4-11 record and was eventually demoted to the minors. But if the Angels can help him rediscover his form, this could be the spark they need to turn their season around.