Tropical storm soaks field, forcing Angels to postpone
With turf needing more time to dry, team will play two games Wednesday.
The Angels’ series opener against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday has been postponed, the field at Angel Stadium needing more time to dry after Tropical Storm Hilary rolled through Anaheim on Sunday.
Monday’s game will be made up in a split doubleheader on Wednesday, the team announced, the first game starting at 1:07 p.m. and the make-up game beginning at 6:38 p.m.
Lucas Giolito is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game, with Shohei Ohtani taking the mound in Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader and Reid Detmers pitching in Game 2.
It’s the second time in three days that the Angels have needed to reschedule a home game because of the weather, something the team has not needed to do since 1983, when three games in April of that season were rained out.
The outfield in Angel Stadium, in particular, took a hit, manager Phil Nevin said Monday afternoon, addressing members of the media over a Zoom call.
“It was a lot more rain than we usually get around here, but everybody’s safe, everybody’s good,” Nevin said. “The field took a little bit of a hit, but [head groundskeeper Barney Lopas] is out there making it perfect.”
The field at Angel Stadium does not have the same kind of drainage system as East Coast ballparks, which regularly experience inclement, rainy weather.
On Friday, the Angels, Dodgers and San Diego Padres moved their scheduled Sunday home games to Saturday in anticipation of an historic storm system not seen in Southern California since 1939.
All three teams hosted doubleheaders, the Angels splitting with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Of the impact having an extra day off and another doubleheader can have on the club, Nevin said: “Anytime you’re at this point of the season, there’s general soreness, nobody’s 100%. So the extra days never hurt.
“But we got a doubleheader now Wednesday that could set you right back to where you were. An off day Thursday will help. Certainly is just what was best for our players, the Reds’ players, that we did it this way.”
Tickets to the originally scheduled game for Monday can be used to attend the make-up game on Wednesday night.
Is Trout ready to return to lineup?
The Angels optioned outfielder Jordyn Adams back to triple A on Sunday, leaving open a spot for, say, the anticipated return of one star slugging center fielder.
Though, whether Mike Trout would for sure be returning to the team for Tuesday’s game with the Reds, Nevin would not guarantee.
“Mike felt good yesterday, felt a lot better today,” Nevin said. “As I’ve told you guys up until this point, it’s really day to day. Hopefully he comes in tomorrow, feels good and we’ll make a decision.
“It’s not 100%,” Nevin added. “Yes, Jordyn went out. If we don’t feel Mike is ready, we have other options there, too. Mike’s gonna come in and see how he feels tomorrow… but as far as getting into a game and baseball action, that’s something that we have to make a decision on tomorrow.”
Trout was sidelined on July 5, after undergoing surgery to address the fractured hamate bone in his wrist and has been working his way back since.
Another ailing Angel looking to return, shortstop Zach Neto (lower back inflammation), is expected to travel with the team on their upcoming trip through New York and Philadelphia, where he could resume baseball activities.