Trout, still in pain, put on DL
Before swinging a bat Thursday, Mike Trout attempted to exude confidence in his inflamed right wrist.
“I was trying to convince myself it was getting better,” he said Friday. “But it was still pretty painful.”
For just the second time in his career, Trout was placed on the disabled list, a move that knocked him out of the lineup until at least Thursday, when the Angels open a four-game series at Texas.
Trout and manager Mike Scioscia suggested the DL stay shouldn’t have to be extended, which means the two-time MVP would return for the Rangers opener.
Trout was injured Aug. 1 against Tampa Bay when he slid awkwardly into third base. He originally thought he would need only a few days to recover.
Instead, his symptoms have persisted, even after receiving a career-first cortisone injection this week.
“The last couple days it’s just been the same,” Trout said. “It’s tough. I’d rather be out there playing.”
He worked out at Angel Stadium on Thursday, a day off for the team.
He had planned on attempting batting practice, but swinging alone was too difficult.
“Wrists are tough,” Trout said. “You need your wrist to hit. You need your wrist to throw. You don’t want to be up in the [batter’s] box thinking about it.”
Last season, after he tore a ligament in his left thumb on a headfirst slide, Trout was placed on the disabled list for the first time.
Friday’s game was the eighth straight Trout has missed. The Angels were 4-3 during the first seven, including a three-game sweep of Detroit.
Reliever Akeel Morris was promoted from triple-A Salt Lake to take Trout’s roster spot.
Hot or not?
Scioscia was asked Friday afternoon about Kole Calhoun’s recent “hot” stretch, during which the right fielder has lifted his batting average nearly 70 points in seven weeks.
“I don’t think he’s hot,” Scioscia said. “I think he’s doing what he’s capable of. And maybe version 2.0 of Kole is going to be better than the one that he left behind.”
Calhoun was placed on the DL at the start of June and missed 15 games while reworking and simplifying his swing.
Since his return June 18, he had hit 14 homers entering Friday. That was the most in that span in the American League.
Short hops
The Angels are tentatively scheduled to play a series in Mexico next season against Houston. The games would be in early May, though the location has not been determined. … Tyler Skaggs (left adductor strain) is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list and start Saturday. … Down one starting pitcher, the Angels plan to use a series of relievers Sunday in the finale against Oakland.