Maddon tries different looks at leadoff spot
BOSTON » With David Fletcher slumping and dealing with a hip issue that kept him out of the lineup for the second time in four games, the Angels are in experimentation mode with the leadoff spot.
Manager Joe Maddon put Jose Rojas in that spot for the first time on Sunday, after using Taylor Ward there on Saturday.
The Angels faced a lefty when the right-handedhitting Ward batted leadoff on Saturday, and they were facing a righty when the left-handed-hitting Rojas was there on Sunday.
“The Rojas-Ward combo I kind of like,” Maddon said. “We’ll see how it plays out.”
Because Maddon didn’t want Rojas and Shohei Ohtani as back-to-back lefties at the top of the lineup, he moved Mike Trout up to the No. 2 spot and put Ohtani third.
Maddon conceded that it was even possible he might move Trout again: up to the leadoff spot.
Trout has not hit leadoff regularly since his rookie season, but Maddon said that from time to time when he has a very good player in a slump, the leadoff spot can be a good way to get him going.
Trout came into Sunday’s game in an 0-for-15 slump, which extended to 18 at-bats before he had a bloop single just before Ohtani’s go-ahead homer in the ninth.
“If you have a really good strong player, pop them up at the top give them a different outlook on life,” Maddon said. “Just have him go up there and try to hit singles up the middle. Don’t think power. That’ll just happen naturally. Go out there and set the table for everybody else.”
As for their normal leadoff hitter, Fletcher has been bothered by a nagging hip injury since the Angels were in Houston earlier this week. He is day to day. Fletcher also is hitless in his last 17 at-bats, which has dropped his onbase percentage to .271.
Rotation update
Patrick Sandoval will get his first start of the season on Monday because Alex Cobb is still not ready to return from the blister issue that landed him on the injured list.
Sandoval will be able to throw about 60 pitches, Maddon said. The Angels also still have Jaime Barria in the bullpen.
Andrew Heaney and Ohtani will pitch on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Angels pushed Ohtani back one day because Maddon said Ohtani looked fatigued the day after his previous start, on Tuesday in Houston.
Maddon wasn’t ready to announce when Cobb will return to the rotation, but he said the Angels have a spot in mind for him.
The Angels have a makeup doubleheader (seven-inning games) against the Minnesota Twins scheduled for Thursday, so it’s logical that would be the day the Angels would like Cobb to return.
Also
Relief pitcher Noé Ramirez was designated for assignment on Sunday to create a roster spot for reliever Hunter Strickland, who joined the team a day after the Angels acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays. …
Outfielder Justin Upton was off for the second time in four days, with another scheduled off day in between, but Maddon said he’s healthy. Upton has been in a 4-for-38 slump.