ANAHEIM — A six-game road trip awaits for the Angels, who then are expected to finally see the return of third baseman Anthony Rendon when they play at home against the Texas Rangers on July 8.
As the team plays at Oakland and Chicago to face the Cubs over the next week, Rendon will put the finishing touches on his rehab from a partial tear in his hamstring that has kept him out for more than two months.
The major step will come next weekend when Rendon faces live pitching in a controlled setting at Angel Stadium either Thursday and Friday, or Friday and Saturday, according to Manager Ron Washington. As recently as last week, the Angels hoped Rendon could face live pitching this weekend, but that plan was adjusted to have him stay home during the road trip when he could see pitchers on consecutive days.
“When we come back, hopefully, he’ll be ready to go right before the All-Star break,” Washington said.
As of now, it does not appear as if Rendon will go out on a minor league rehab assignment.
“They’re still trying to decide; trying to talk him into it,” Washington said. “Now, it’s the player’s decision. And you can talk to them all you want. If they decide they don’t want to go. … I’m not going to beat a dead horse. I’m not going to make that an issue because he doesn’t want to go on a rehab assignment. You got the right to decide if you want to go or not.”
Three-time American League MVP Mike Trout has similarly avoided going on minor league rehab assignments in recent seasons, last playing in an official minor league game in 2017 when he was on the mend from thumb surgery.
Washington, who has brought an old-school culture back to the Angels this season, admitted to a preference for injury rehab assignments for hitters.
“I’m not gonna make that an issue,” Washington said. “Yeah, inside of me, it’s bothering me, but I’m not gonna make that an issue because there is nothing I can do about it. It’s the law. So I’m going to go with the law.
“You would hope that he would go … but if he doesn’t want to go, that’s not going to be an issue for me. I have enough stuff (going on) to be worried about something like that.”
ALMOST THERE
Infielder Brandon Drury, who has been out for nearly two weeks with an upper respiratory illness, could be in the starting lineup as early as Tuesday at Oakland. Washington said Drury was available off the bench Saturday and gave him a pinch-hit appearance on Sunday. Drury struck out to end the sixth inning.
Drury last played in a game June 18, and while he has been struggling this season, with a .173 batting average and .233 on-base percentage, he did have a hit in three of his last four games.
Even with Drury’s return, and the plan to activate Rendon soon, Washington still intends to get as much playing time as possible for Luis Rengifo, including at designated hitter if it warrants.
Rengifo entered Sunday’s game batting .329 since June 9, a span of 18 games, with home runs in the first two games of the series against the Tigers.
NEW FRIENDS
The Anaheim Ducks’ two first-round draft picks participated in a dual first-pitch ceremony with forward Beckett Sennecke and defenseman Stian Solberg each having the honor. Sennecke, a native of Canada, was the No. 3 overall selection Friday, while Solberg, a native of Norway was selected with the No. 23 pick.
Both players wore the team’s new primarily orange jersey with the menacing duck-billed retro goalie mask.
Also throwing out a separate first pitch was Galaxy defender Eriq Zavaleta, who was participating in the Angels’ El Salvadorian heritage celebration.
UP NEXT
Angels are off Monday.
Angels (RHP Jose Soriano, 4-5, 3.48 ERA) at Oakland (RHP Mitch Spence, 4-4, 4.35 ERA), Tuesday, 6:40 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
