LOS ANGELES — In 2022, the Angels will play 19 games against the Texas Rangers and none against the San Diego Padres.
In 2023, the Angels will play 14 games against the Rangers and three against the Padres.
That’s progress. But the next frontier of schedule reform should involve radical realignment, in which divisions would be organized not by traditional league structure but by geography — more games against teams closer to home, with less travel for players and a more attractive home schedule for fans. The Angels and Padres might not have a rivalry now, but one could develop after playing each other year in and year out.
