ANAHEIM — Mike Trout was out of the lineup on Monday, but not on the injured list, which still qualifies as good news for the Angels.
Trout was hit in the left hand by a pitch during Sunday’s game against the Seattle Mariners. His hand was swollen when he talked to reporters after the game. He was not available to the media on Monday.
“He woke up today and felt a lot better,” Manager Kurt Suzuki said before Monday’s game. “Obviously, he just got hit yesterday, so it’s still a little bit sore. We’ll take it day by day.”
Suzuki said the three-time American League MVP did not require any testing beyond the X-rays taken on Sunday.
“It looks a lot better than it did yesterday,” Suzuki said. “I think that’s a good thing that it improved a lot overnight. We’ll see how he feels.”
With the Angels facing Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale on a day when Trout wasn’t playing, they used a jumbled lineup on Monday.
Bryce Teodosio replaced Trout in center field. Jorge Soler, who is usually the DH, went into right field, and Jo Adell shifted over to left.
When Suzuki was asked why he moved Adell just two days after his historic night in right, he suggested that this was the best alignment with Teodosio, Adell and Soler as his outfielders. Soler has only played three games in left since 2022.
First baseman Nolan Schanuel and left fielder Josh Lowe – both left-handed hitters – were also out of the lineup.
SUDDEN CELEBRITY
After robbing three home runs in a phenomenal defensive performance on Saturday, Adell said he did five interviews on Monday, including two on different MLB Network shows.
He’s also heard from the Hall of Fame, which has requested the glove that he wore that night. Adell is expecting to send the glove to the Hall after he’s done using it.
Major League Baseball selected Adell’s third robbery, the one in which he dove into the stands, as the Play of the Week.
PITCHING MOVES
Right-hander Ryan Johnson, who was scratched from his Sunday start because of an illness, was placed on the injured list on Monday. The Angels recalled left-hander Mitch Farris to take his spot on the roster.
Right-hander George Klassen, who started for Johnson on Saturday, remains on the roster.
Suzuki said they aren’t sure yet if Klassen will start again. Johnson’s turn will come up at least once while he’s on the IL.
Because of Thursday’s off day, the Angels could push the fifth starter spot back to April 14 in New York, if they choose. Johnson is eligible to be activated on April 18.
INJURY UPDATES
Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who is out with shoulder inflammation, has become more excited about his progress lately, as Suzuki reads the situation.
“I talked to him a couple weeks ago and it was like ‘yeah, you know,’ and then I talked to him yesterday and it was like ‘yeah, I’m feeling good. I’m ready to get going,’” Suzuki said. “So that’s a good sign.”
Infielder Vaughn Grissom, who had a bruised left hand, is hitting .429 (9 for 21) with a .979 OPS in his rehab assignment at Triple-A. Suzuki said he still needs to play a full nine innings in the field, though. He has played first, second and third base.
“Once he gets there and kind of gets multiple nine innings and back-to-back nine innings, we’ll evaluate and see where we’re at on that,” Suzuki said.
Right-handed reliever Ben Joyce is still not scheduled to face hitters. He is throwing bullpens, though.
“I can’t report anything except he’s feeling really good and throwing bullpens,” Suzuki said. “I’m anxious to see him get out there and face hitters soon.”
UP NEXT
Braves (RHP Reynaldo López, 1-0, 1.64 ERA) at Angels (LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 0-1, 6.52 ERA), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network, 830 AM