Zachary Engberg
2 min read • May 29, 2022
Posted in
The Angels made a bevy of roster moves on Saturday involving star players Anthony Rendon, Shohei Ohtani, and Taylor Ward.
Los Angeles placed veteran third baseman Rendon on the 10-day IL with right wrist inflammation. He will be eligible to return on June 6th.
Rendon reportedly suffered the injury on a swing during Thursday night's loss to the Blue Jays, but it is not clear by video which swing it was.
Rendon finished that game 0-4, dropping him to a .242 batting average and .738 OPS with five home runs, nine doubles, and 23 RBI.
Versatile infielder Matt Duffy, who missed time earlier this month with a facial laceration, is starting at third and batting cleanup in Rendon's place on Saturday. Duffy is batting .246 with two RBI in 57 at-bats this season.
The 31-year-old, $245 million man missed 104 games in 2021 with various leg injuries, which followed the shortened 2020 campaign, so he has yet to play a complete season since signing with the Angels after his World Series win in 2019.
After leaving Thursday night's contest early and sitting out Friday with back stiffness, the reigning AL MVP is back in the heart of the order as DH on Saturday.
Ohtani reportedly began feeling tightness in the first inning of his last start, but stayed in the contest, giving up five runs and two home runs with 10 strikeouts over six innings.
The 27-year-old has battled through several ailments this season without a trip to the IL. He suffered a groin strain on May 1 and, despite concern from the ProBaseballDocs, was able to return to the lineup the next night and make his next scheduled start.
Ohtani is batting .247 with nine home runs and a team-high seven stolen bases while posting a 3.45 ERA and striking out 63 batters in eight starts.
The breakout rightfielder is back riding the pine on Saturday as he nurses a stinger.
Ward returned to the lineup on Friday, going 0-4 with three strikeouts one week after colliding with the outfield wall. He pinch-hit in the eighth inning on Thursday night.
The stinger has been described by various reporters as a neck, arm, and shoulder injury. It is generally a transient injury, and his time out of the lineup shouldn't be extended much longer.
The Angels have slowed after a torrid start to the season, losing three in a row and seven of their last 10, brining their record to 27-20.
Written by Zachary Engberg
