As the Angels face the Blue Jays on July 4, 2025, they place Christian Moore on the IL, calling up Chad Stevens for his MLB debut. Read the full story.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Happy Fourth of July, Angels fans! As the fireworks light up the sky back home, the Halos are north of the border for a holiday showdown with the Toronto Blue Jays. But the real fireworks today are on the roster sheet. While the team celebrates a big win against the Braves, they're also dealing with a tough loss as second baseman Christian Moore heads to the injured list. In his place, shortstop Chad Stevens gets the call of a lifetime, set to make his Major League debut.
Shortstop Zach Neto ended a 0-for-13 skid with a 3-hit performance in the July 3 win over Atlanta, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.
The Angels' infield takes a hit as second baseman Christian Moore was placed on the 10-day IL with a left thumb sprain. The injury occurred on a gutsy diving play against the Braves on Wednesday. While Moore is reportedly optimistic for a quick return, his absence creates a void. Stepping up to fill it is Chad Stevens, whose promotion from Triple-A Salt Lake came in cinematic fashion—he was pulled from a game and told the news in the dugout by a teammate. The shortstop's contract was selected as the Angels also made room by releasing veteran reliever Héctor Neris. Fans will be eager to see what Stevens brings to the big league club.
The Halos aren't just relying on new faces for a spark; they're carrying momentum from a dominant 5-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. José Soriano was masterful on the mound, improving to 6-5, but the story of the night was the offense. The team racked up 11 hits, and most importantly, shortstop Zach Neto emphatically broke out of a nasty 0-for-13 slump. Neto tallied three hits, including a home run and a double, falling just a triple short of the cycle. That resurgence is a massive boost for an offense that needs all hands on deck.
Tonight's holiday matchup is a formidable one. The Angels (43-43) face the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays (49-38) in their ballpark. It's a classic test for a .500 team trying to prove it belongs in the playoff conversation. The pitching matchup pits the Angels' Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 4.66 ERA) against the Jays' tough lefty Eric Lauer (4-1, 2.60 ERA). With the game airing nationally on Apple TV+, it's a perfect stage for the Angels to make a statement.
Today is a perfect snapshot of a baseball season: the sting of an injury, the thrill of a debut, and the momentum from a much-needed win all colliding in a high-stakes holiday game. Can Zach Neto's hot bat stay lit? How will Chad Stevens handle his first taste of the big leagues? The answers will unfold this weekend in Toronto, a series that could set the tone for the Angels' push toward the All-Star break.
