Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward came into Thursday's series finale against the hosting Tampa Bay Rays with a .196 average (9-for-46) with a homer and three RBI in his first 11 games this year. Ward turned things around in a big way at the plate in the 11-1 win over Tampa, though, going 3-for-5 with two home runs, two runs scored and three RBI to raise his season average to .235 and his OPS to .704. The 31-year-old led off the game with a solo, opposite-field shot before adding a two-run bomb in the fifth inning. He's clearly heating up, as he now has three home runs in his last two games in Tampa. Fantasy managers liked what they saw from Ward against the Rays and will be hoping he can keep it going as the Halos head to Houston for a weekend series against the division-rival Astros.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (knee) is back in Thursday's Cactus League lineup against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and is serving as the designated hitter and batting leadoff. Ward developed some knee soreness in camp earlier in the week but will be returning to the lineup for the first time since Monday after several days off. The 31-year-old veteran has only played in four Cactus League games to this point, but he's swung a hot bat, going 3-for-8 with a double, RBI and a run scored. He will be L.A.'s regular left fielder yet again in 2025 and could benefit from a fantasy perspective if Mike Trout can stay healthy all year with his move to right field. In his seventh year with the Halos in 2024, Ward had a career-high 25 home runs and 75 RBI while slashing .246/.323/.426 in 663 plate appearances to make him a top-40 fantasy outfielder.

The Athletic's Sam Blum reports that both Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (knee) and infielder Luis Rengifo (hamstring) said they are fine and expect to return to the Cactus League lineup in a day or so. Ward and Rengifo were both recently scratched from spring training action due to minor injuries -- Ward is dealing with knee soreness, while Rengifo merely had a hamstring cramp. The 31-year-old Ward will continue to serve as the Angels' starting left fielder in 2025 and could also be their leadoff hitter. While nothing he does at the plate jumps off the page to fantasy managers, don't forget that he finished the 2024 season as a top-40 outfielder for a bad Angels team. Rengifo, meanwhile, should also be an everyday player in 2025 as a utility infielder. He has very little power but is useful for infield depth later in drafts for his speed, contact abilities and positional versatility.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (knee) is being considered day-to-day at camp while dealing with knee soreness, according to the Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher. Ward hasn't played in a Cactus League game since last Friday, although it doesn't appear that he's dealing with a serious injury. Barring a setback with his knee, we'd expect the 31-year-old veteran to be back in a spring training game later this week. When healthy, Ward will be the starting left fielder for the Halos again in 2025 and could also hit in the leadoff spot, boosting his run-scoring opportunities. Fantasy managers won't think too highly of Ward just because of where he plays, but his barrel rate and average exit velocities in 2024 were pretty impressive. Ward finished as a top-40 fantasy outfielder last year without fellow outfielder Mike Trout in the lineup for much of the season.

The Los Angeles Angels reinstated outfielder Taylor Ward from the paternity list on Friday and optioned third baseman Charles Leblanc to the minors in a corresponding move. The Angels haven't released their starting lineup yet for Friday's series opener in D.C. against the hosting Washington Nationals, but Ward should return to his starting duties in left field while batting in the middle of the order after missing the series in the Bronx against the New York Yankees this week. Outside of some modest power numbers (16 home runs), the 30-year-old Ward has had a pretty low ceiling on a bad Angels team in 2024. Since the All-Star break, he's homered twice while going 14-for-61 (.230), adding two doubles, 11 RBI, five walks and 20 strikeouts in 16 games played. Only three of his 16 homers this year have come off lefties, so he's not particularly attractive in DFS on Friday evening.

The Los Angeles Angels placed outfielder Taylor Ward on the paternity list on Tuesday and reinstated infielder Anthony Rendon (back) from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Ward will be away from the Angels for a few days and will miss the series in the Bronx against the New York Yankees this week before most likely returning on Friday for the series opener against the hosting Washington Nationals. Ward is useful for his power (16 home runs) for outfield depth in fantasy leagues, but he doesn't provide much else on a bad Angels team. He's currently slashing .228/.309/.395 with a below-average .704 OPS and 55 RBI in 109 games played. With Mike Trout (knee) and Luis Rengifo (wrist) both out for the year, Ward isn't going to have much protection in the heart of the Halos' batting order the rest of the year.

The Los Angeles Angels are listening to trade offers on outfielder Taylor Ward and utility man Luis Rengifo, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Rengifo is under team control through 2025 and Ward through 2026. Feinsand further emphasized that many front-office executives believe that the two players will be dealt by Tuesday's deadline. Ward enjoyed a nice start to the summer through May with a .268/.33/.469 line but has cooled off since June 1 with a much lower .168/.277/.292 line. However, he holds a 13.5% barrel rate and 42.9% hard-hit rate, which suggests he should be turning the corner very soon. Rengifo is on pace to set career highs in most statistics with a .304/.347/.426 slash line and an eye-catching 23 swiped bags. Both players will be very useful for a team looking to compete this fall and should provide the Angels with a solid package of prospects.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in on Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward and are working on a deal to acquire him before the July 30 trade deadline, according to sources. Ward would most likely move over to right field if he landed in Pittsburgh, replacing Joshua Palacios. Although Ward is batting a mediocre .238 (77-for-324) on the year, he does have 14 home runs, 44 RBI and 43 runs scored in 324 at-bats for a bad Angels team. While the Pirates may not necessarily be looking towards a postseason run this year, Ward is attractive because he's cheap and is under team control through the 2026 season. The rebuilding Angels are most likely looking for a couple solid prospects in return. If Ward were traded, Kevin Pillar would become a regular in left field in Anaheim, at least until Mike Trout (knee) returns from his injury.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (knee) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers. Ward will make his return to the lineup after missing one game due to a right knee contusion. He's back in left field and batting third versus right-hander Max Scherzer on Tuesday. Fantasy managers who have Ward rostered can get him back in their lineups. However, it's hard to trust any hitter against an elite pitcher such as Scherzer.

The Los Angeles Angels are expected to trade relievers Carlos Estevez and Luis Garcia, but unless they receive overwhelming offers this summer, they will likely hang onto outfielder Taylor Ward and starting pitchers Tyler Anderson and Griffin Canning. Anderson's stock is on the rise after allowing only three hits in eight shutout innings in his last start on Saturday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. All three players remain under team control through at least the 2025 season. Ward banged up his knee crashing into the outfield wall in Sunday's loss to the Cubbies and was held out of Monday's lineup against the Texas Rangers, but he expects to return on Tuesday. The 30-year-old is hitting just .238 (76-for-320) on the season but does have 14 home runs, 44 RBI and a .740 OPS and will get more protection when Mike Trout (knee) returns, hopefully at the end of July.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (knee) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Texas Rangers. The veteran outfielder will get the day off after banging up his knee during Sunday's game. Luckily, it sounds like a minor issue that will likely only cost Ward one or two games. In his absence, Kevin Pillar will bat third and play left field versus right-hander Jon Gray. Fantasy managers who have Ward rostered will need to adjust their lineups accordingly.UPDATE: Ward said he feels good on Monday and expects to be back in the lineup on Tuesday after banging his knee crashing into the brick outfield wall at Wrigley Field on Sunday.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (head) is back in the team's starting lineup on Tuesday against the division-rival Oakland Athletics and right-hander Mitch Spence, playing left field and batting third in the order. Ward left Sunday's game against the Detroit Tigers as a precautionary move in the bottom of the ninth inning after he was hit by a fastball in the head. Thankfully, the 30-year-old avoided a concussion and is back in the starting lineup after a scheduled day off on Monday. He's faced Spence only three times in his career and has one hit. Count Ward as a player happy to see the calendar flip to July, as he hit only .181 (15-for-83) with three home runs, six doubles, nine RBI, 14 walks, 26 strikeouts and a stolen base in 25 games in June.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward homered in Monday's 5-1 win over the Oakland Athletics, his first dinger since June 11. Ward, who scored twice and walked in four plate appearances, has pulled down his fantasy managers in June, slashing .148/.303/.295 with six RBI and nine runs scored. The slump has taken his numbers for the season to .241/.326/.431 with 13 homers, 40 RBI, and 37 runs scored. Ward's power potential keeps him in the good graces of fantasy managers, who hope his home run on Monday is a sign his swing is trending upward. Since he remains on a near-30 home run pace and is also a potential trade candidate, Ward is a good fantasy option in most leagues.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward went 2-for-2 with a walk, double, home run and two RBI in Tuesday's loss versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. His home run would cut the Diamondbacks lead to two at the time, but it wouldn't be enough for the Angels to make a comeback. Despite the strong performance for Ward, he left the game early with lower back tightness and was replaced by outfielder Mickey Moniak in the top of the eighth inning. More should be known on Ward's status ahead of Wednesday's contest, but he can be considered day-to-day until more is known. On the year, Ward is now hitting .253 with 12 homers and 36 RBI. When healthy, Ward makes for a useful outfielder in all formats. Should Ward miss any time, Moniak would see more at-bats, but he can be left on the waiver wire for now.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward went 2-for-6 in Saturday's 3-2 extra-innings loss to the Rangers. Both of Ward's hits went for extra bases, one for a double and the other a solo home run. The home run was his tenth of the year, and the 30-year-old is looking like one of the better values in fantasy drafts this year after having an ADP in the 200s. On the season, the former first-round MLB draft pick has a .275-10-28-27-2 line with a .352 wOBA and 127 wRC+.

Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo (illness) and outfielder Taylor Ward are not starting for the Angels on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rengifo has been out since coming down with an illness on Saturday. Ward appears to be getting a regular day of rest. Cole Tucker is starting at third base and is batting eighth, while Kevin Pillar is in left field and is batting fifth against Pirates right-hander Quinn Priester. When Rengifo gets over his illness, he should be a lineup regular for the Halos due to injuries and the fact he's hitting .330 (30-for-91) with two homers, 11 RBI and nine stolen bases so far in 2024. Ward, who is batting .271/.302/.471 with seven home runs and 24 RBI, will be counted on for even more production in the heart of the team's batting order with Mike Trout (knee) out.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward continued his hot offensive start in Monday's 7-3 win over the Rays. Ward went 2-for-5 with a single, a two-run home run, and two strikeouts. The 30-year-old now owns a .313/.333/.612 slash line with six HR, 13 runs scored, and an impressive 19 RBI in 69 plate appearances. He is rostered in 78% of leagues, so Ward could still be available in leagues where fantasy managers are looking for a hot bat.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward smacked his third home run of the season on Wednesday in a 10-2 thrashing of the Marlins. Ward also had a double in the contest, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. He's now 8-for-25 (.320) on the young season with two doubles, three home runs, eight RBI, and six runs scored. The 30-year-old is shaping up to be a value after having an ADP beyond pick 200 in fantasy drafts. He missed extended time last season due to injury, but in 2022 he hit .281-23-65-73-5 with a .362 wOBA and 137 wRC+ over 135 games. Those numbers seem well within reach in 2024 while hitting cleanup in an Angels lineup that may not be quite as offensively challenged as anticipated.

Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 spring loss to the Chicago Cubs. Ward took Keegan Thompson deep in the bottom of the sixth inning for his first home run of spring training. The 30-year-old has had a solid spring, slashing .286/.375/.457 with a home run, six RBI, and five runs scored over 14 games during spring training. His 2023 season ended prematurely. Ward suffered multiple facial fractures after being hit by a pitch in the face against the Blue Jays in July. He is slated to be the Angels' starting left fielder and is projected to hit fifth in the team's lineup. Ward has an NFBC ADP of 221 in March and has a chance to pop 20-plus homers in 2024, making him a solid pick at his current price tag in upcoming fantasy drafts.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (face) is in camp with the team and said he feels 100 percent after being hit in the face by a pitch that ended his 2023 season last July. He plans to face live pitching for the first time in spring training this Saturday. It was already reported last week that the Angels didn't have any plans to hold the 30-year-old back in spring training, so he should be ready to roll for Opening Day after he had surgery in August to fix several facial fractures. The Halos will be hoping Ward can step up in 2024 as one of the more prominent offensive weapons and starting left fielder. Injuries have held him to fewer than 100 games in each of the last two seasons, but Ward was productive before his injury last year, slashing .253/.335/.421 with 14 home runs, 47 RBI, four stolen bases and 60 runs scored in 97 games played.