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The Angels did a little lineup shuffling after scoring only three runs in the first two games of their series against the Rangers, including no runs in their last 14 innings.
Anthony Rendon, just 4-for-36 (.111) though with a team-leading 13 walks, is dropped from third to fifth on Sunday against Lance Lynn. Rendon batted third in 10 of his 11 starts this season, and cleanup once.
“Offensively, you look at the numbers, you know they’re going to get better. The guys are better than that,” manager Joe Maddon said after Saturday’s loss. “So in the meantime, you’ve just got to be patient, support them, and keep going back out there.”
Angels-Rangers lineups
| Pos | Angels | Pos | Rangers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Angels | Pos | Rangers |
| SS | Fletcher | LF | Choo (L) |
| 1B | La Stella (L) | 3B | Kiner-Falefa |
| CF | Trout | 1B | Frazier |
| DH | Ohtani (L) | RF | Gallo (L) |
| 3B | Rendon | CF | Solak |
| LF | Goodwin (L) | 2B | Odor (L) |
| RF | Adell | SS | Andrus |
| C | Castro (L) | DH | Refsnyder |
| 2B | Rengifo (S) | C | Mathis |
Mike Trout was shifted to third, his first time batting in that spot since September 29, 2018. His last 145 starts since came batting second.
The shift in the order, plus having first baseman Tommy La Stella batting second, spreads the left-handed batters out in the Angels’ Sunday lineup, such that no two left-handed batters bat consecutively.
Lynn has allowed all of six hits and one run in his three starts for the Rangers this season, with 24 strikeouts in 18⅓ innings. The only active Angels to face Lynn in at least 10 plate appearances are Trout (5-for-18, 2 homers), La Stella (2-for-15, double), and catcher Jason Castro (1-for-8, 2 walks).
Andrew Heaney makes his fourth start for the Angels, and has lasted progressively longer in each of his first three starts, pitching 4⅔, five, and 5⅔ innings.
Game info
Time: 11:35 a.m. PT
TV: Fox Sports West