In a surprising turn of events, the Los Angeles Angels have effectively cracked the code on Jacob deGrom's slider, a pitch that has bewildered many hitters across the league. In two recent matchups, the Angels have managed to inflict significant damage, scoring a season-high five runs against deGrom in a single outing, including home runs from unexpected sources like Kevin Newman. DeGrom's slider, which usually yields high whiff rates, has become a source of success for the Angels, demonstrating a rare moment of vulnerability for the elite pitcher.

Despite deGrom's overall stellar performance this season, with a 2.14 ERA against most teams, the Angels have exploited weaknesses in his slider, leading to eight runs over 10⅓ innings in their encounters. DeGrom himself acknowledged issues with his slider during these outings, which, when ineffective, allows hitters to focus on his fastball. This scrutiny raises questions about his stamina and effectiveness as he surpasses 120 innings this year, a workload not seen since 2019. As July progresses, it will be critical to monitor deGrom's performance and how his approach may evolve against teams like the Angels.