Walsh may see limited at-bats against lefties
The question of Jared Walsh's performance against lefties once again hangs over the Angels' first baseman.
The Angels now have more answers, though.
Walsh has a career .834 OPS against righties and a .600 OPS against lefties. Even though he's struggled most of the time against lefties, he has had enough big moments — like a grand slam against Aroldis Chapman — to support the idea that he will hit lefties if given enough opportunity.
Walsh certainly believes that. Manager Phil Nevin also expressed confidence in Walsh, although he added that they have alternatives.
“I think he's capable of hitting (lefties),” Nevin said. “We're going to put our best lineup out each day that gives us the best chance to win. If we feel the matchup is right for Jared to face those guys then he will. We certainly have an abundance of right-handed hitters that have a history and a track record of being very successful against lefties.”
Brandon Drury, who played 48 games at first in his career, will start at first for the Angels on Saturday. Gio Urshela has never started a game at first in his big league career, but he's played there in winter ball, and Nevin said he's confident in his ability to do it because he “knows what kind of athlete he is.”
Drury has a career .770 OPS against lefties, including .955 last season. Urshela has a .764 OPS against lefties.
Walsh shrugged at the suggestion that there are now more challengers that could send him to the bench against lefties.
“I'll cross that bridge when I get there,” Walsh said.
For now, Walsh said he's just focused on hitting, period.
This spring Walsh is 8 for 25 (.320) with a .934 OPS. He is 3 for 7 against lefties. After striking out in his first four at-bats against lefties, he has three straight hits.
“I'm just going to get squared away against any pitcher, and get to the lefty thing,” he said. “I work regularly on angle flips against righties and lefties. I think if I stay through the ball more against lefties, there will be more hits in there.” .909 OPS against lefties last season, compared with .629 against righties.
Where Rengifo will play remains to be seen. He could play second or short, with Drury and Urshela joining him in the infield. Nevin also said he wants to see more of Rengifo in the outfield, including center field.
For now, the Angels would just like to see Rengifo play. Nevin conceded that he is concerned that Rengifo has played in just two of Venezuela's games in the World Baseball Classic, coming to the plate just five times.
Nevin said he understands that Venezuela is going with its best lineup, and not as concerned with getting Rengifo ready for the season.
“I know that's part of it,” Nevin said. “They are trying to win games. I'm a little partial. I think he should be out there. Of course when he comes back we've got to get him a lot of at-bats, which we can do.”
Venezuela is playing Team USA in a quarterfinal game today in Miami, so the soonest Rengifo is likely to be back in Angels camp is Monday.
Also
• Nevin said the Angels will use their sixth starter for the first time on April 12, which is their 12th game of the season. He said that they still have four candidates for the role: left-hander Tucker Davidson and right-handers Jaime Barría, Griffin Canning and Chase Silseth. Davidson and Barria are both out of options. Nevin said any of the four could pitch out of the bullpen when he isn't starting, even though Canning and Silseth haven't done that yet as professionals. “It's a difficult decision,” Nevin said. “They are all pitching well.”
• Left-hander José Suarez is scheduled for the Angels' fifth game of the season. Shohei Ohtani and Patrick Sandoval are pitching the first two games, at Oakland on March 30 and April 1. That leaves the uncertainty surrounding Tyler Anderson and Reid Detmers. Anderson pitched the day before Detmers this week, so presumably the Angels are lining up Anderson to start April 3 in Oakland and Detmers the next day in Seattle.
GAME RECAP
The Angels scored four runs in the first inning and seven in the third, including a grand slam by Jake Lamb, in a 12-1victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday in Tempe, Ariz. The Angels improved to 13-5-2 this spring.
Left-hander José Suarez gave up one run in four innings, with three strikeouts and two walks. Suarez has allowed four earned runs in 8-2/3 innings this spring . ... Right-hander Ben Joyce hit 104mph on the final pitch of his scoreless inning, Manager Phil Nevin said. Joyce struck out two, including one hitter who was ruled to have swung while he was getting out of the way of a pitch at his feet. Joyce also hit a batter. He has not allowed a run yet this spring . ... Right-hander Sam Bachman, one of the Angels' top pitching prospects, pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in his second outing of the spring. He had not pitched since Feb. 26, missing some time with what the Angels called “soreness.” Bachman is expected to be built up as a starter in the minors . ... Right-hander Austin Warren worked two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts and no walks. Warren has eight strikeouts and no walks in seven innings this spring.
Brandon Drury hit a two-run homer in the first inning, his fourth extra-base hit in a span of seven at-bats. Drury has two homers this spring, with a 1.086OPS in 31plate appearances. Drury fouled a ball off his calf before the homer, and it tightened up on him so he left the game after two at-bats, according to Nevin, who added that Drury will play Saturday.
... Gio Urshela hit a line drive that just beyond the reach of diving center fielder Dairon Blanco. The ball rolled to the fence as Urshela cruised into third with a triple. It was his first at-bat after returning from playing for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic. He was 2for 3 . ... Anthony Rendon doubled off the center field fence, driving in a run. He had two hits, improving to 8 for 18 (.444) with a 1.357 OPS this spring.
... Jared Walsh had two hits, including a double when left fielder Tyler Gentry lost a ball in the sun . ... Lamb had an RBI double to go with his grand slam. Lamb is 9for 26 (.346) with a 1.087 OPS this spring. DEFENSE REPORT: Rendon, the third baseman, tried to make a backhand play on a sharp one-hopper, but the ball ricocheted off his glove for a hit . ... Andrew Velazquez, who is normally an infielder, played center field for the fourth time this spring.
UP NEXT: Angels vs. Rangers, today, 1 p.m., Tempe Diablo Stadium, Bally Sports West, 830 AM