Seven weeks after he landed on the injured list with a broken hand, Angels center fielder Mike Trout will finally make his return to the lineup.
Trout suffered the injury on July 3 shortly before the All-Star break, and underwent surgery two days later. He’s missed the team’s last 38 games, a stretch that has seen the Angels slip well behind the back for a playoff spot. Los Angeles entered Tuesday with a 61–64 record, nine games behind the Mariners for the third and final wild-card bid.
During Trout’s absence, the Angels have gone 16–22, seeing their playoff odds shrink from 30.2% to a minuscule 0.4%, according to FanGraphs.
he's baaack 🐐#GoHalos | @MikeTrout https://t.co/4epM3TUyCq pic.twitter.com/IEZOEraNC9
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 22, 2023
In 81 games this season, Trout had posted a .263/.369/.493 slash line, with 18 home runs and 44 RBIs. His .862 OPS is his lowest since becoming a full-time major leaguer.
The Angels open a three-game series against the Reds on Tuesday.