The Los Angeles Angels were struggling offensively before Mike Trout landed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a bone bruise in his left knee.
Now, as they prepare to meet the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night in the third game of their four-game series in Anaheim, Calif., the Angels need to figure out how to score more.
Despite a disappointing .179 average to start the season, Trout still is tied for the team lead in home runs (nine) and leads in RBIs with 18. This season, the Angels have just 111 runs — only three major league teams have fewer — and have given up 166.
The Angels, who had a heavenly 8-4 start to the season, have lost seven straight games and nine of their past 10 to fall to the bottom of the American League West. The enter play Saturday seven games behind the division-leading Seattle Mariners.
Trout’s injury is to the same knee that required surgery last season to repair a torn meniscus. The 33-year-old Trout said he hopes he’ll be able to return to the lineup when his 10 days on the injured list are up.
“I think that’s definitely possible,” Trout said. “The doctor told me to stay off it for a couple days and (then) I’ll get back into it.
“I feel a lot better. (Thursday), I was pretty sore. I’m not concerned, at all. It’s way better than what happened last year. Just looking at the MRI, structurally it’s all good. Just bruising around the bones. Just let that thing calm down and be good to go.”
With a 9-1 loss to the Tigers on Friday, the Angels have scored more than four runs just once in their past 19 games. And with a staff ERA of 5.22, Los Angeles is having a tough time holding opponents below four runs, doing so just five times in those 19 contests.
Detroit, leaders of the American League Central, don’t have that problem. They have pushed across 164 runs while giving up 110.
Angels manager Ron Washington said he hopes for a speedy return from Trout.
“We were struggling when Mike was in it, but I still like his presence,” Washington said. “I don’t care what Mike does in the sense that he has a track record. All I want is his presence.”
Jorge Soler has started the past two games in right field for Trout and figures to get most of the starts there. The Angels called up outfielder Gustavo Campero from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, and on Friday they promoted outfielder Niko Kavadas from Salt Lake.
Jo Adell could move from center field to right field, giving Kyren Paris an opportunity in center field.
“I’d like to see the whole team step up,” Washington said. “That’s been our issue, just trying to get guys to step up. For some reason, our little funk has involved everybody, so I like to see everybody step up here.”
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks (0-3, 6.65 ERA) will start for the Angels on Saturday, still looking for his first win with the club. He is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three career starts against Detroit.
Right-hander Jack Flaherty (1-3, 3.34 ERA) will make his seventh start of the season for the Tigers. He is 0-2 with a 16.88 ERA in two career starts against the Angels.
The Tigers are happy with the defense of Javier Baez, a former Gold Glove shortstop who has made the transition to center field. And his swift progress in the outfield was on display Thursday when he leaped and robbed Soler of a home run.
“Great athleticism, great timing, feel for the wall,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “All things that you can play outfield for a really long time and never quite get. He has it naturally, and it’s pretty awesome to see.”
–Field Level Media
