Walsh update

After one hot month in games that count put Jared Walsh high in the Angels’ plans, Maddon isn’t ready to dismiss that based on one cold month in games that don’t.

“Guys ebb and flow all the time,” Maddon said. “I love his bat speed. I love his hands in his setup. I think he’s a very good first baseman. He’s got a high baseball IQ. So ... spring training? I just can’t go to negative town on anybody, really.”

Walsh is 8 for 37 (.216) this spring, and he didn’t have an extra-base hit until a double Sunday. He has struck out 12 times and walked four times.

The Angels’ plan coming into the spring was for Walsh to get the majority of playing time at first base, based on his breakout in 2020. He hit .293 with a .971 OPS and nine homers in 99 at-bats, mostly in September.

Maddon pointed out that Walsh started slowly last summer, too. He also looks to Walsh’s career numbers in the minors as evidence that this spring is not a concern.

“What he did in September, to me, it’s not an anomaly,” Maddon said. “He’s done that before. He knows how to do it. I know it’s the minor leagues. I understand that. But I watched this guy very closely. The ball comes off the bat hot.”

Pitching plans

After a day off today, the Angels will have Jaime Barría pitch their final Arizona exhibition game, while Alex Cobb works in an intrasquad game, on Saturday.

Andrew Heaney and Griffin Canning will each pitch a few innings in Sunday’s Freeway Series game against the Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani will pitch on Monday at Dodger Stadium. Maddon said he’s not sure if Ohtani will also hit in that game. Although it’s in a National League park, teams can use the DH whenever they want in exhibition games.

“We haven’t had that conversation yet (about Ohtani hitting),” Maddon said. “If he’s into it, I would.”

Jose Quintana will start the final exhibition at Dodger Stadium next Tuesday.

The Angels still haven’t announced who will start the rest of the seasonopening four-game series against the Chicago White Sox, after Dylan Bundy pitches Opening Day.

Based on the current order, it would be Cobb, then Heaney and Canning in the next two. That would leave Ohtani to start the first game against the Houston Astros on April 5, followed by Quintana.

Notes

Maddon did not make any announcements Thursday about Jose Rojas, even though it seems apparent that the longtime minorleaguer will break camp with the big-league team because the Angels sent out all the remaining middle infielders Wednesday. “There’s no white smoke or news to announce yet,” Maddon said with a smile, “but I talk to (Rojas) all the time. I’ve been a big fan.”