Angels’ Trout to miss series against Cubs

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Mike Trout has been ruled out for the Los Angeles Angels’ weekend series against the Chicago Cubs after he strained his right groin during the team’s last homestand.

Trout visited Dr. Steve Yoon on Friday in Los Angeles. Angels general manager Billy Eppler said imaging showed a reduced amount of swelling.

“Mike also reports daily improvement,” Eppler said in an emailed statement. “He will continue treatment in Anaheim and he will be re-evaluated on Sunday.”

Trout first felt discomfort after working out Tuesday. The injury flared up while he was running to second base in the second inning of the Angels’ victory over Milwaukee that night.

Manager Brad Ausmus said the team doesn’t think Trout will need a stint on the injured list. He could rejoin the Angels for their next series in Texas.

“It’s just a matter of how he feels and what the doc thinks,” Ausmus said before the Angels’ 5-1 loss to the Cubs.

Trout signed a record $426.5 million, 12-year contract near the end of spring training. The two-time AL MVP is batting .406 with five homers and 12 RBIs in 12 games this year.

The injury means one of baseball’s biggest stars will miss a rare trip for Los Angeles to one of the sport’s iconic venues in Wrigley Field. Trout is 5 for 15 in four career games at Chicago’s longtime home.

“I’ve done this for a couple years now, and I’ve seen some guys who are a cut above, and he is,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “Like Barry Bonds was — the same way — Ken Griffey Jr., Trout, his whole game is different. The whole game is different. He’s a game-changer on so many different levels. And he’s one of the nicest guys you’ve ever met in your life.”

Ausmus also said he thinks Shohei Ohtani is going to hit off a machine Friday. The 2018 AL Rookie of the Year had Tommy John surgery last October.

Ohtani has been taking batting practice for a couple of weeks.