Trout a late scratch with back spasms
Mike Trout was a late scratch from the Angels lineup on Saturday because of back spasms, bringing into question whether the three-time MVP will be able to play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
Trout came out of Tuesday's game against the Houston Astros with back spasms, and he has not played since. He was said to be improving throughout the week, and on Friday night Trout said he felt well enough to play on Saturday.
Trout was in the lineup on Saturday afternoon, but the lineup was changed just minutes before the first pitch.
Trout had said on Friday night that he also planned to play in the All-Star Game, but that would seemingly be questionable now. If the three-time American League MVP was not well enough to play in any of the last four games before the break, Trout and the Angels could determine that he's better served to take the five days off during the break to be ready to play on Friday when the season resumes.
Adell gets a chance
The Angels are going to give Jo Adell a chance to stick in right field.
Before Trout's late scratch, the Angels had right-handed hitters Adell and Taylor Ward on either side of Trout, with Brandon Marsh sitting against a lefthanded pitcher on Saturday night. However, instead of keeping Ward in right, where he's been all season, and putting Adell in left, Manager Phil Nevin's original lineup card kept Adell in right and moved Ward.
“I just want to keep Jo as comfortable as possible,” Nevin said. “That's where he worked the most in Salt Lake. I like what I've seen out of Jo in right field. I don't want to mess with that. I know Wardo is able to handle all of it.”
Ward, in fact, moved to center field with Trout out.
Defense has been an issue for Adell throughout his time in the majors over the past three seasons. Adell played mostly left field in the majors earlier this season. Adell has insisted publicly that he feels just as comfortable in either left or right, but Nevin now apparently believes right is better for him.
Adell made a nice play going into the gap on Thursday night, but he misplayed a ball at the fence on Friday night. Nevin was clear after the game that he didn't want to hold that single play against Adell, because he felt he's improved overall.
Nevin also has no reservations about moving Ward around. Ward was drafted as a catcher, then he moved to third base and then he moved to the outfield. He's since become a capable outfielder, and the Angels still are willing to put him back in the infield in a late-game situation if in a bind.
“Wardo will play anywhere,” Nevin said. “There's been times where we've had pinch-hit scenarios where Wardo could have gone to third, could have gone to second, could have gone to first. He's our right fielder. He's an outfielder. But he can play all three at a high level.”
Ohtani's schedule
Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to start Friday in Atlanta, the first game of the second half of the season.
Nevin said the Angels had not determined the starters for the other two games of the series.
Nevin said Ohtani starting on Friday does not preclude him from pitching in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, because he'd just pitch one inning.
Nevin said he still doesn't know if or when Ohtani will pitch in the All-Star Game, though.
“I just trust him when he gets there,” Nevin said. “He'll take care of his body and be ready to go. Looking forward to seeing him pitch on Friday night.”
Rengifo to third
Nevin made a switch with his infielders on Saturday, giving Luis Rengifo his first start of the season at third base.
Rengifo had played third in previous years, and he finished Friday's game there after Jonathan Villar was ejected.
“Just to see what it looks like,” Nevin said. “It's something we've been tossing around. He's worked on his throw from short a lot. I think it plays over at third.”
The move with Rengifo is instructive because it could give a hint as to what the Angels will do when David Fletcher returns. He is scheduled to be activated on July 28. The Angels could put Fletcher at short, with Michael Stefanic at second and Rengifo at third.
The Angels gave Villar a shot after he was released by the Chicago Cubs, but Villar produced a .389 OPS in his first 46 plate appearances with the Angels, to go with three errors in 11 games.
Lorenzen update
Right-hander Michael Lorenzen (shoulder strain) has extended his long toss out to 120 feet. He still hasn't thrown off a mound, so his return is at least a couple of weeks away.
“Just taking it day to day, to see how we can progress,” Lorenzen said. “It just depends on how I feel every day. If I feel good then we'll keep progressing. If I don't, then we'll just step off the gas a little bit.”
Lorenzen said he started feeling something in his shoulder two starts ago, and during his final start in Houston.
“It didn't feel very good,” Lorenzen said. “I knew if I made another start, it would be long term.”