Among the myriad of injuries the Los Angeles Angels have sustained this season, their recent weeks have been draining, including third baseman Anthony Rendon suffering a nasty contusion on his leg during Tuesday’s game.
Angels star Mike Trout will miss at least a month with a broken hamate bone, Brandon Drury is out for the time being, Zach Neto is working his way back, and their pitching staff has been decimated in the bullpen.
Rendon has missed around 35 games on the IL since the start of the 2023 season, which has put a damper on his ability to contribute to the offense.
Rendon’s ability to hit with runners in scoring position is key to the Angels’ success, but his latest freak injury could keep him out if things don’t improve, via Jeff Fletcher of the O.C. Register:
Rendon suffered a contusion when he fouled a ball off his left shin during Tuesday’s game. After the game, he said “it’s not looking good” when he was asked if could avoid the IL.
With a bleak outlook and a current stretch of poor play from the Angels, Rendon being out might exacerbate their current struggles. The veteran has been a disaster contract for the franchise since being signed prior to the 2020 season after winning a World Series championship in 2019 with the Washington Nationals.
Rendon wasn’t optimistic postgame on Tuesday, and members of the Angels staff had some wishful thinking when discussing his availability:
“Hopefully this thing subsides in the next couple of days and he’ll be fine for L.A., but we’ll reevaluate it after the game tonight, probably again tomorrow sometime and make a decision,” Manager Phil Nevin said before Wednesday’s game against the Padres.
Losers of 7 of their last 10, the Angels have fallen seven games back of the Texas Rangers in the American League West, and remain two back of the Houston Astros for second place.
Angels putting Brandon Drury on the IL is ‘the smart move’
On the season, Drury has posted a 122 wRC+ with 14 home runs and 45 RBI. But his 106 plate appearances this past month were delightful as he logged a 150 wRC+ with five homers and 18 RBI.
His hottest run as a member of the Angels was halted for the time being after suffering a bruised shoulder after diving for a ball on June 29. The team placed Drury on the injured list before the All-Star break rather than have him play through the injury.
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