SAN FRANCISCO — The Angels are on the verge of getting Brandon Drury and Miguel Sanó back.
In theory, they could provide a boost to their lineup.
Manager Ron Washington isn’t assuming anything, though.
“I certainly hope when those guys get here they perform,” Washington said, “because if they don’t perform, they’re going to be over here on the bench, and the guys that are out there performing will go back out there.”
Drury was one of the Angels’ most consistent hitters last year. But the 31-year-old began the season slowly, including the time he was playing through the hamstring injury that finally landed him on the injured list. He was hitting .173 with a .470 OPS at the time he went on the injured list.
Sanó, 31, had briefly been a nice story, returning to the big leagues for the first time since 2022 because he got healthy and in better condition. He was hitting .296 with a .788 OPS on April 22. He then tried to play through the knee pain for a few days — striking out in all seven plate appearances — before going on the injured list.
Both have been playing in rehab assignments at Triple-A. One or both could be back as soon as Monday.
Two of the three players who joined the team since their injuries — Cole Tucker, Luis Guillorme and Michael Stefanic — are likely to give way to create room for Drury and Sanó.
“We need those guys; don’t get me wrong,” Washington said of Drury and Sanó. “But they’ve got to come and perform. If they decide to come here and they struggle performing, then I’m gonna judge how they handle themselves, the presence whether they can still show these guys how to go out there and be a pro even though they’re not performing. But if they don’t perform and they’re not showing these kids how to handle not performing, then they’re gonna be on the bench. It’s that simple.”
A day after Nolan Schanuel picked up his first career stolen base, setting up the go-ahead run in the Angels’ 4-3 victory, Washington was thrilled with the step the rookie first baseman took.
Schanuel has below average speed, but first base coach Bo Porter told him about something to watch from pitcher Ryan Walker.
“I gave him the key, but I didn’t think he was gonna do it,” Porter later told Washington, as Washington recounted on Sunday.
Schanuel stole second, and then took third when the throw got into the outfield. He scored on a Luis Rengifo single.
“He’s finally coming out of his shell,” Washington said of Schanuel. “He’s really loosening up and he’s starting to see the game.”
Washington said that Schanuel set an example that other players should follow.
“When he did that, it educated everyone else in this dugout,” Washington said, “because if Schanuel can do that, I can run better than you. So now it awakened everyone. And it was needed at the time.”
Taylor Ward, who has been limited to DH for four straight games, will be back in the outfield on Monday. …
Mickey Moniak was out of the lineup on Sunday, even though he’s been on a hot streak, because the Giants were throwing a left-handed opener. “When Moniak starts and gets these opportunities against these lefties, they’ve been ugly,” Washington said. “You’ve got to show me that he can handle them.” Moniak was 0 for 9 against lefties this season, prior to Sunday’s game. For his career, he has a .156 average against lefties. The Angels are set to face three righties in the upcoming series against the Milwaukee Brewers. …
Right-hander Chase Silseth gave up three runs in five innings in his second rehab start in Triple-A. Silseth threw 77 pitches.
Brewers (RHP Carlos Rodriguez, 0-1, 4.91) at Angels (RHP José Soriano, 4-5, 3.48) at Angel Stadium, 6:38 p.m. PT Monday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.
