CHICAGO — After struggling through the first two seasons of his career, left-hander José Suarez got it together in 2021, posting a 3.75 ERA in 98 1/3 innings to earn his spot in the rotation coming into this year.
But Suarez has scuffled so far this season and was hurt by a pair of homers in a 4-0 loss to the White Sox on a rainy Saturday that snapped the Angels’ six-game win streak and featured a 61-minute rain delay at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The 24-year-old lasted four-plus innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks to fall to 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in his fourth start this season.
Angels manager Joe Maddon, though, said he believes Suarez is headed in the right direction and isn’t ready to make a change in the rotation yet. The Angels do have some options, including long reliever Jaime Barria, who threw three scoreless innings after the rain delay in the top of the sixth to lower his ERA to 2.31, and lefty Jhonathan Diaz, who is pitching well at Triple-A Salt Lake. But Maddon said they’re not ready to entertain any changes this early in the year.
“A little bit better overall,” Maddon said. “I thought he took a step forward today. There are some things he needs to do better. We have a lot of confidence in the kid. I think he’s going to be a very good Major League pitcher and a big part of our success this year. Sometimes you have to stay with people, especially if you believe in them.”
Suarez has struggled with his command this year, as he’s…