Ben Joyce shut down for remainder of 2026 season with shoulder injury

Ben Joyce, the Angels' hard-throwing reliever, will not pitch again in 2026. MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reported that the club has shut Joyce down for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury.

What happened

The Angels removed Joyce from availability for the rest of the year, with a shoulder injury ending his 2026 campaign before the club's final series. The move was reported by Rhett Bollinger for MLB.com.

Why it matters

Joyce's shutdown arrives at the tail end of a season that has already been difficult for the Angels' roster. Within the past week, first baseman Nolan Schanuel was also reported to be missing the remainder of the season due to injury — meaning the club is closing out 2026 without two notable contributors. For a team already eliminated from both the division race and the Wild Card race, the immediate competitive cost is limited, but the health picture heading into the offseason carries real weight.

Joyce has drawn attention throughout his career for elite velocity, and shoulder injuries in hard-throwing relievers tend to command close attention from front offices and medical staffs alike. The specific nature and severity of this injury have not been detailed in the reporting, and no timetable for his return has been provided.

Where the club stands

Los Angeles enters the final weekend of the regular season at 60-98 (.380), sitting 5th in the AL West and 18.5 games out of first place. They are also eliminated from Wild Card contention, sitting 21.5 games relative to the cut line and ranked 12th in that race. The Angels have dropped their last three games heading into a three-game road series at Seattle's T-Mobile Park.

Friday's game at Seattle features Reid Detmers opposing Bryce Miller. Saturday is scheduled for Ryan Johnson against Kade Anderson, and Sunday closes the regular season with Yusei Kikuchi facing Logan Gilbert.

What we don't know yet

The specific nature of Joyce's shoulder injury has not been disclosed in the reporting. No diagnosis, no recovery timetable, and no detail about when he last pitched have been provided. Whether this situation will require any intervention beyond rest this offseason remains unaddressed in the available information.

What to watch

Joyce's shoulder health will be among the items to monitor as the club moves into its offseason evaluation. Any update on diagnosis or recovery timeline would be the next meaningful development to track.