TORONTO — Nolan Schanuel’s hot streak has been interrupted by a stiff back.
The Angels’ first baseman, who has been their best hitter lately, was out of the lineup Saturday, and he is not expected to play again until Tuesday, when the Angels open a series in Detroit.
“That turf is bad out there,” Angels manager Ron Washington said, referring to the field at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. “Last night he had a little trouble with his back and he came in today and wasn’t feeling good, and I’m not going to push it if he’s not feeling good.”
From a hitting standpoint, the break comes at an inopportune time. Schanuel had at least one hit in all eight games he’d played since Washington moved him into the No. 3 spot. He was hitting .379 with a .988 OPS in those games.
That wasn’t enough for Washington to take a chance with him playing through a health issue.
“If he’s not comfortable within himself, I don’t want him out there,” Washington said. “I don’t want him out there worried about his back, trying to catch a ground ball, trying to throw. So I’m gonna take care of that. I’m gonna get him off his turf for the next two days.”
The Angels offense seemed to be clicking when they scored a combined 17 runs in back-to-back victories against the New York Yankees earlier this month.
Since leaving New York, though, the Angels’ bats have gone into a slumber, especially with runners in scoring position.
The Angels hit .148 with runners in scoring position in the last 14 games, heading into Saturday.
Washington said his hitters need to learn to “slow their heartbeat down” in those situations.
“Try to do what the situations ask them to do, and not try to be a hero,” Washington said. “Because in this business, if you try to be a hero, you become a zero.”
Washington said too many players are looking for “damage” instead of simply taking a base hit and moving the line.
“When we have been successful, it’s because we’ve been keeping the line moving,” Washington said. “When we try to be a hero, that’s why you keep seeing us becoming zeroes, but it’s experience.”
Outfielder Mickey Moniak missed a second consecutive game because of a sore left elbow. He was hit by a pitch Thursday. “He’s not feeling good,” Washington said. “He’s not feeling bad. But it’s not feeling right.” Washington said he expected Moniak to play Sunday. …
Right-hander José Soriano, who is out with arm fatigue, has not yet resumed throwing. Washington said Soriano will definitely return to pitch this season, though. …
A day after Niko Kavadas received the ball from his first major-league homer, which a fan had taken home Thursday night, Washington said he was happy Kavadas was able to get such a significant memento. When he was asked if he had the balls from his first homer or hit, he said he had neither. “I wasn’t concerned about it,” Washington said. “I was on the bag, just happy to get a base hit. Now, everything is memorabilia.”
Angels (LHP Tyler Anderson, 10-11, 3.40) at Blue Jays (RHP Kevin Gausman, 11-9, 4.24) at Rogers Centre, 10:37 a.m. PT Sunday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.
