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Angels keep Anthony Rendon on active roster for now

July 6, 2023

SAN DIEGO — The Angels are giving Anthony Rendon a chance to avoid a third trip to the injured list this season.

Although Rendon was walking with the help of crutches on Tuesday, and still using one crutch on Wednesday, the Angels kept the veteran third baseman on the active roster in hopes that he can play by Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

“Hopefully this thing subsides in the next couple of days and he’ll be fine for L.A., but we’ll reevaluate it after the game tonight, probably again tomorrow sometime and make a decision,” Manager Phil Nevin said before Wednesday’s game against the Padres.

Rendon suffered a contusion when he fouled a ball off his left shin during Tuesday’s game. After the game, he said “it’s not looking good” when he was asked if could avoid the IL.

That still might be the ultimate outcome. If the Angels do place Rendon on the IL on Thursday or Friday, it could be retroactive to Wednesday, so he would be eligible to return on July 15, the second game after the All-Star break.

The only downside to waiting to make the decision is that the Angels went into Wednesday’s game with only three healthy players on the bench instead of the normal four.

Rendon, 33, has already been on the IL twice this season, with a strained groin and a bruised wrist. He missed most of the previous two seasons with hip and wrist injuries that required surgery.

TROUT SURGERY

As expected, Mike Trout underwent surgery on Wednesday to have his fractured hamate bone removed, which is the standard procedure in these cases.

The timetable for recovery is at least four weeks, but in most cases, it requires six to eight weeks.

“It just remains to be seen, how Mike’s hand responds when he starts doing the treatments and his rehab,” Nevin said. “I know he’s anxious to get going. He was happy he could get this done right away so he can get back to the team as quick as possible.”

OHTANI’S BLISTER

Shohei Ohtani was back in the lineup on Wednesday, despite the blister that hindered him on the mound on Tuesday afternoon.

Nevin said he expects Ohtani to be ready to pitch again after the All-Star break.

“He’s got 10 days off,” Nevin said. “We can stretch that further if we need to. But I would anticipate him making that first start after the break (on July 14).”

NOTES

Left-hander Tyler Anderson will be temporarily available in the bullpen because the Angels don’t need him to start before the break. Griffin Canning and Reid Detmers will start on Friday and Saturday against the Dodgers. Nevin said he thought Anderson would “react better and perform better (out of the bullpen) than the other guys.” …

Left-hander José Suarez (shoulder) has begun throwing bullpen sessions in Arizona. He is scheduled to face some hitters next week. …

The Angels recalled right-hander Zack Weiss and optioned right-hander Gerardo Reyes on Wednesday. …

Hunter Renfroe’s home run against the Padres on Tuesday gave him a homer against all 30 teams. Renfroe is the 71st player in major league history to homer against 30 different franchises.