NEW YORK — Nolan Schanuel is gradually getting his numbers where he expects them to be.
Schanuel had a hit on Saturday and two on Sunday. He also walked three times in the two games, and he didn’t strike out.
“I’m just working through it,” Schanuel said before Monday’s game against the New York Yankees. “Finding that right swing.”
Schanuel came into Monday hitting .232 with a .698 OPS, which is still down from last year’s marks of .264 and .742. His strikeout rate has increased from 13% to 15% and his walk rate has also risen from 11% to 12%. Both numbers are still better than the major league average.
Schanuel said one of the issues lately has been a sore ankle from a minor injury he suffered during the Seattle series last weekend. He said it wasn’t serious, so he played through it, but it’s nonetheless better now.
Manager Kurt Suzuki has kept Schanuel in the No. 3 spot in the lineup against right-handed pitchers throughout his slump.
That’s an important spot because leadoff hitter Zach Neto (a .368 on-base percentage) and No. 2 hitter Mike Trout (.400) have been giving Schanuel ample opportunities with runners on base. Schanuel ranked second on the team with 11 RBIs, despite the slump.
“For me to have Neto and Trouty in front of me and getting on base, whether it’s them on first or second, my job is to get them over and get them in,” Schanuel said. “They’ve been doing a good job of getting on base for me, and I feel like I’ve been pretty 50-50 on getting them in.”
Suzuki said he’s still seen good things from Schanuel, despite the numbers.
“He’s been having good at-bats,” Suzuki said. “They just haven’t been falling. To see him get a couple knocks yesterday in a big spot was definitely great to see.”
SORIANO HONORED
Right-hander José Soriano was named American League Player of the Week after allowing one run in 15 innings in his two starts, victories over the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.
He’s the first Angels pitcher to win the award since Reid Detmers won it after pitching a no-hitter in 2022.
“That’s tremendous,” Suzuki said. “Well-deserved, obviously. Such a good accomplishment, for what he’s done, and to be able to get that recognition for all the hard work he puts in.”
Soriano is the first Angels pitcher to win his first four starts of the season since Jered Weaver won his first six in 2011.
STARTER UPDATE
Right-hander Ryan Johnson felt a tweak in his hamstring two pitches into his outing on Monday in Arizona. Johnson is on the injured list because of a viral infection, but now he apparently has a physical concern.
“They’re evaluating him and seeing what’s going on, the severity or whatnot,” Suzuki said. “I don’t know too much about it. He tweaked it and felt a little something so they took him out.”
Another potential Angels starter took a step closer to being a major league option on Monday, when Caden Dana was added to the Triple-A roster. Dana missed the start of the season catching up for the time lost because of illness in spring training.
Dana is cleared to throw a normal start of about 85 pitches at Triple-A.
The Angels still aren’t sure what they’re going to do when they need a No. 5 starter later this series, either Wednesday or Thursday.
NOTES
Infielder Jeimer Candelario cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A. …
The Angels tied a franchise record by drawing 26 walks in the three-game series in Cincinnati. …
Suzuki has fond memories of playing at Yankee Stadium, where he hit .367 with a .931 OPS. He was also 6 for 14 in three games at old Yankee Stadium. “I don’t love the fans getting on you playing here, but I love hitting here and stuff like that,” Suzuki said. “But it’s a great place to play. It’s a great atmosphere. You’re always playing against good teams, so it’s always a good challenge.”
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 0-1, 4.60 ERA) at Yankees (LHP Ryan Weathers, 0-1, 2.81 ERA), Tuesday, 4:05 p.m. PT, FanDuel Sports Network, 830 AM