CHICAGO — Anthony Rendon could be back in the Angels lineup as soon as Monday.
Rendon faced live pitching on Friday and Saturday at Angel Stadium, so now he will be activated as soon as he says he’s ready.
“Our intention was for him to be ready when we get back,” manager Ron Washington said on Sunday, the final day of the Angels trip. “When we get back, we’ll assess that. And if he’s ready to go, he’ll be in there tomorrow. If he’s not ready to go, he’ll be in the next day. If he’s not ready to go (the day after that), he’ll be in there the next day. We’ll figure that out once we get back to Anaheim.”
Rendon has missed more than two months with a torn hamstring. Just before he got hurt, he was showing some productivity, with a .357 average and an .823 OPS in his last 63 plate appearances.
Washington said when Rendon returns, he will go back to the leadoff spot and to third base.
“I’m going to start him at third base and the next day I’ll probably put him at DH,” Washington said.
As for the lineup, Washington said he would move Nolan Schanuel to the No. 2 spot. Washington prefers Luis Rengifo in the No. 2 spot, but he’s currently out with a wrist injury. If Rendon and Rengifo were healthy at the same time, Schanuel would move to the bottom half of the lineup, Washington said earlier this week.
The Angels have right-hander Roansy Contreras scheduled to make his third start on Tuesday. Contreras gave up one run in three innings in his first start, and three runs in 2-2/3 innings in his second start, both against the Oakland A’s. Eventually, the Angels could insert Reid Detmers, Chase Silseth, Sam Bachman or Kenny Rosenberg into the rotation. For now, though, none are ready. “We’ve got nothing else right now,” Washington said. …
The Angels’ 7-0 victory on Saturday was the second game this season in which all nine starters had at least one hit. The first was on April 12 at Boston. …
Left-hander José Quijada has made four appearances so far in the Arizona Complex League, allowing two earned runs in 3-2/3 innings. He has nine strikeouts. Quijada, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, is expected to be activated around July 26, when his 30-day rehab assignment expires.
Rangers (RHP Jon Gray, 3-4, 3.92) at Angels (RHP Davis Daniel, 1-1, 2.70) at Angel Stadium, 6:38 p.m. PT Monday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.
