ANAHEIM — Mike Trout was given the day off Sunday following one of his more notable performances of the season.
Interim manager Ray Montgomery said he and Trout agreed that this was a good opportunity for rest—Trout’s first day out of the lineup since June 1.
“With five years of experience working with him, I can usually tell when he’s being honest versus when he’s telling me what he thinks I want to hear,” Montgomery said. “It felt like the right time. I expect him to contribute in some capacity today. He’ll get a breather after a night game and then get ready to go again.”
Trout, 33, has dealt with multiple injuries over the past two seasons. After sustaining a bone bruise in his twice-operated left knee on April 30, he returned to action a month later, on May 30.
Since rejoining the team, Trout has served as the designated hitter in 26 of 28 games, hitting .290 with four home runs and an .857 OPS in that span. His season OPS stands at .792.
However, those stats paint an uneven picture—Trout came out strong after returning but hit a slump soon after. His game-tying home run in the seventh inning on Saturday was his first in 10 days, and he credited it to a mechanical adjustment made following a strikeout earlier in the game.
Trout admitted after the game that his knee is still not fully recovered, which has limited him to DH duties and caused him to be more cautious on the bases.
“It’s getting there,” Trout said. “I haven’t even considered playing defense yet. It’s still sore. I’m just pushing through it.”
NETO UPDATE
Zach Neto continued his recovery work Sunday, taking part in more sliding drills while also keeping up with his hitting and throwing routines. Though he’s sidelined with a sore right shoulder, Neto was a candidate to serve as the designated hitter in Mike Trout’s absence. However, interim manager Ray Montgomery said the team chose to take a more cautious approach.
With an off day coming Monday followed by a 13-game stretch leading into the All-Star break, Montgomery emphasized the importance of being prudent.
“Why rush it?” Montgomery said. “Based on how he’s feeling and what he’s telling our medical staff, it just makes sense to be smart here.”
Montgomery added that, like Trout, Neto was available off the bench as a pinch-hitter. He had already done so in both Friday and Saturday’s games.
MONCADA UPDATE
Third baseman Yoán Moncada has traveled to Arizona to continue rehabbing his right knee inflammation.
Moncada has resumed hitting from the left side, along with fielding, throwing, and running as part of his recovery process. Interim manager Ray Montgomery said it remains unclear when Moncada will be ready to begin playing in rehab games in Arizona, much less make his return to the Major League roster.
TAYLOR’S CONTRIBUTION
Utilityman Chris Taylor remains sidelined with a broken left hand and is still a few weeks away from returning, based on the typical six-week recovery timeline.
Despite being unable to play, Taylor will accompany the Angels on their upcoming road trip, as he did on the previous one. While it’s uncommon for an injured player with no on-field involvement to travel with the team, the Angels value his presence.
“He’s involved in everything,” said interim manager Ray Montgomery. “He’s at all the meetings, shows up early, stays late, and continues to contribute. Even though he can’t play, his impact is still significant.”
NOTES
Right-hander Robert Stephenson, who has been out since May 30 with biceps inflammation, is set to begin a throwing program on Monday. Interim manager Ray Montgomery emphasized a cautious approach to Stephenson’s return.
“We’re going to slow play it,” Montgomery said. “It takes time to ramp things back up after being shut down for this long.”
Meanwhile, Jorge Soler continues to make progress in his recovery from back tightness. He has been taking batting practice on the field, and said Saturday that a return to action could be near.
UP NEXT
Next Game Preview
Angels at Braves
Date: Tuesday
Time: 4:15 p.m. PT
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM
Probable Starters:
- Angels: LHP Tyler Anderson (2-5, 4.41 ERA)
- Braves: RHP Didier Fuentes (0-2, 10.80 ERA)
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