ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout received a cortisone injection in his sore right wrist Monday, and the Los Angeles Angels are hopeful their superstar center fielder can return to their lineup on the weekend.
The two-time AL MVP wasn’t in the Angels’ starting lineup for the fifth consecutive game when they opened a six-game homestand against Detroit.
Manager Mike Scioscia said Trout won’t play in at least their next two games, including the Angels’ game on his birthday Tuesday. After a day off Thursday, the Angels are hopeful Trout will feel good enough to return Friday when they open a series against Oakland.
“I think that all the tests he had point to just some inflammation, and that has to run its course, and his injection will help that to happen,” Scioscia said. “We anticipate him getting to baseball activities in a couple of days, and see how he feels for Friday.”
Trout hasn’t played since Aug. 1, when he hurt his wrist during a feet-first slide into third base in Tampa Bay. He skipped the last four games of the Angels’ road trip, and he had an injection upon the team’s return to Orange County.
Barring a major change, Trout will be out for at least seven games. That will be the second-longest injury absence of his seven full big-league seasons, surpassed only by his 39-game absence last season after he tore a ligament in his left thumb in a headfirst slide.
Scioscia doesn’t think the Angels are likely to retroactively place Trout on the disabled list, a move that would make him ineligible until Sunday.
“I think if you can get Mike Trout to play from the seventh day instead of the 10th day, I think you’d want to,” Scioscia said. “So we’re just going to let it run its course, and when it’s 100 percent, he’ll play.”
The injury will deprive Angels fans of what’s become an annual treat: Seeing Trout do incredible things on his birthday.
Trout’s 27th birthday is Tuesday, and he has a history of throwing celebrations for himself: He has homered on his birthday four times in his first six full big-league seasons. He did it at the Big A last season, homering and also getting his 1,000th career hit on his 26th birthday.
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