ANAHEIM — David Fletcher was once a big enough part of the Angels that his photo was one of the large portraits around the home-plate gate at Angel Stadium. The Angels thought enough of him to sign him to a five-year, $26-million deal.
Now, Fletcher has been in the starting lineup for just four of the Angels’ first 12 games. Two of those were during Anthony Rendon’s suspension and a third came when Rendon was a late scratch because of a sore shoulder.
Asked if he’s been frustrated or disappointed with his current role, Fletcher said: “A little bit, but I play when they tell me and I don’t when they don’t.”
The reason for his declining playing time is simple: The Angels have been trying to put the best offensive lineup on the field, and they believe that means Gio Urshela and Luis Rengifo getting most of the starts in the middle infield.
“I love him and I want to play him more, but right now we have a lot of guys swinging the bat well that are in front of him,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said.
From 2018-20, Fletcher hit .292 with a .732 OPS and played excellent defense, earning that contract. He was good in the first half of 2021, then finished in a slump. He lost most of last season with a core muscle injury that required surgery. When he played, he hit .255 with a .621 OPS.
This season, he’s off to a 1-for-15 start.
Fletcher said he’s not feeling any ill effects of last year’s injury. He’s simply waiting to see his name in the lineup.
“I just do whatever they tell me,” he said.
Nevin said Fletcher will get some more opportunities in the Angels’ stretch of 17 games in a row, beginning Friday, and 26 games in 27 days.
“There are going to be openings,” Nevin said. “Production will put you in lineups. He’s certainly capable of it. He’s done a lot of great things here as an Angel. He’s playing a valuable role right now, going in defensively when we need him. We know what he can do there.”
Shohei Ohtani was not in the lineup Wednesday, which allowed Mike Trout to get a day at designated hitter.
That gave Nevin the chance to start Brett Phillips for the first time this year. Phillips was in the lineup in center field, which Nevin said gave them their best defense.
Nevin said Trout will get a full day off sometime on the upcoming trip. So far he has started all 12 games this season.
Nevin said Ohtani was fine with getting a day off. He threw 92 pitches Tuesday night, and could get two straight off days including Thursday’s scheduled off day.
“I thought this would be a good time for him to get two days off his feet and he completely agreed,” Nevin said.
Angels (LHP Patrick Sandoval, 1-0, 1.64) at Red Sox (TBD), 4:10 p.m. Friday, Fenway Park, Apple TV Plus, 830 AM.
