Kochanowicz looking to turn corner after tough first half

ANAHEIM -- The Angels were hopeful that right-hander Jack Kochanowicz would build on his solid rookie season, but instead he’s enduring a sophomore slump that was accentuated with his worst start of the year to end the first half.

Kochanowicz surrendered a career-high eight runs on eight hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings in an 11-4 loss to the Rangers in the series finale on Thursday night at Angel Stadium. Kochanowicz, 24, heads into the All-Star break with a 6.03 ERA in 19 starts, which is the worst mark among the 68 qualified starters this season, with Luis Severino second worst with a 5.30 ERA.

“It’s not exactly what I wanted,” Kochanowicz said. “The current theme is just trying to stay positive. Just gotta throw the ball better. Obviously, last year I had some more success. More than anything, I just want to contribute and help the team keep winning games.”

The Angels are the only team in the Majors this season to use just five starters, but it’s fair to wonder if Kochanowicz would be better served working on his stuff at Triple-A Salt Lake. He’s been trying to incorporate a changeup to pair with his sinker and slider, but it’s clear it’s still a work in progress.

“Any time you're having the issues that he's going through right now, or the lack of success, if you want to put it that way, but you have to discuss everything, right?” interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “We have a responsibility to everybody here. We’ll talk about everything.”

The Angels, though, don’t have a ton of options, as top prospect Caden Dana is currently shut down with fatigue. Other internal candidates include Victor Mederos, Sam Aldegheri and possibly even Ryan Johnson, but they’re also inexperienced. They’re also not likely to convert lefty Reid Detmers back into a starting role given the immense impact he’s had as the club’s top setup reliever.

“I hate to say no to anything, but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Montgomery said. “But never say never.”

Kochanowicz impressed as a rookie last season, posting a 3.99 ERA in 11 starts, including a 2.78 ERA over his final nine outings after scuffling in his first two appearances. He struck out just 25 batters in 65 1/3 innings but made for it with a 57 percent ground-ball rate and a 3.8 percent walk rate.

This year, he's improved his strikeout rate with 65 punchouts in 94 innings, including three against Texas, but he’s seen his ground-ball rate drop to 52.6 percent and his walk rate climb to 10.8 percent. The sinkerball specialist has shown he doesn’t necessarily need strikeouts to be successful because of his ability to generate double plays but his increased walk rate has been a huge issue for him this year.

“I try to lean on my sinker and when that's not working, it’s kind of tough to kind of pick and choose when to get away from that approach,” he said. “They singled me to death today. That's there's been a few different themes. Sometimes it's a long ball. Sometimes it's that. It's just trying to figure out what their approach is and figure out my best way around that.”

He struggled from the start against the Rangers, giving up four straight singles with one out, all coming on grounders to bring home two runs. It could’ve been worse after he walked Wyatt Langford but he got Evan Carter to ground into an inning-ending double play.

He bounced back with a 1-2-3 second with two strikeouts but his troubles returned in his third and final frame. He walked Corey Seager to lead off the inning before giving up a single to Marcus Semien on a line drive to center. He then induced a grounder to third for an out on a play that Yoán Moncada should’ve turned into a double play but his throw to first sailed high.

He recovered to strike out Jonah Heim but then gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Langford and Carter before he balked home another run. He then surrendered an RBI double to Jake Burger and walked Alejandro Osuna to end his outing.

Right-hander Carson Fulmer, who had his contract selected on Wednesday, allowed both inherited runners to score on a two-run single from Seager, but did give them 5 1/3 innings in long relief. He’s also a possible candidate to replace Kochanowicz.

“Not making anything out of tonight, Carson threw the ball great,” Montgomery said. “Again, we'll take a look at everything and kind of talk about everything.”