ANAHEIM — Mike Trout got the day off after having one of his bigger moments of the season.
Interim manager Ray Montgomery said he talked to Trout and determined that Sunday was a good day for him to get his first day out of the lineup since June 1.
“The nice thing, having five years worth of relationship with him, I kind of feel like I know when he’s telling me the truth and I feel like I know when he’s telling me what he wants me to hear,” Montgomery said. “It’s a good time for it. He’s going to participate at some point today. I would envision that. He can get a little break after the night game, and ramp up and be ready to go.”
Trout, 33, has missed most of the last two seasons with injuries. He suffered a bone bruise in his twice-surgically-repaired left knee on April 30 and he came back on May 30.
Since then, Trout has started 26 of the 28 games, all at DH. He’s hit .290 with four homers and an .857 OPS since returning. His season OPS is .792.
The numbers over the last month are somewhat misleading, though, because he got off to a hot start, followed by a cold stretch. His game-tying homer in the seventh inning on Saturday night was his first homer in 10 days. He said it was the result of a mechanical adjustment he made after striking out in his first at-bat.
Trout acknowledged after the game that his knee is still not 100%, which is why he hasn’t played in the field and hasn’t run the bases with his normal aggression.
“It’s getting OK,” Trout said. “I haven’t even thought about (playing the field). It’s still sore. Just battling through it.”
NETO UPDATE
Zach Neto did more sliding drills and he continues to hit and throw. Neto, who is out with a sore right shoulder, could have been the DH on Sunday, with Trout out, but Montgomery said they decided it was best to be cautious with him.
After on off day on Monday, the Angels play 13 days in a row before the All-Star break.
“Why push it?” Montgomery said. “Playing off what he’s feeling me and telling the medical people, just be smart.”
Montgomery said that Neto, like Trout, would be available to pinch-hit on Sunday. He pinch-hit on Friday and Saturday also.
MONCADA UPDATE
Third baseman Yoán Moncada headed to Arizona to continue his rehab from right knee inflammation.
Moncada has been hitting from the left side, fielding, throwing and running. Montgomery said he’s not sure how close Moncada is to playing games in Arizona, let alone returning to the big leagues.
TAYLOR’S CONTRIBUTION
Utilityman Chris Taylor is still out with a broken left hand. Given a normal six-week timeframe for rehab, he has a few more weeks to go.
In the meantime, Taylor will still travel with the Angels on the upcoming trip. He also went on the last trip. It is somewhat unusual for a player who can’t participate at all to be on the road, but the Angels see value in having him around.
“He’s in every meeting,” Montgomery said. “He comes early. He stays late. He contributes. While he’s not physically eligible to play, his contributions are as much as anybody.”
NOTES
Right-hander Robert Stephenson is scheduled to begin throwing on Monday. Stephenson (biceps inflammation) has been out since May 30. Montgomery said they would “slow play” Stephenson’s return to action. “It takes time to wind that thing back up after winding it down for as long as he’s been down,” Montgomery said. …
Jorge Soler (back tightness) continued to take batting practice on the field. Soler said on Saturday that he could be returning soon.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Tyler Anderson, 2-5, 4.41) at Braves (RHP Didier Fuentes, 0-2, 10.80), Tuesday, 4:15 p.m. PT, FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM