Article author:
Reuters
Phil Nevin, Los Angeles Angels Interim Manager, seeks to put together a lineup to rejuvenate the team when the Angels host the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night in Anaheim, California.
Angels fired manager Joe Maddon On June 7th, he lost 14 consecutive club record games in 12 games. Now, after losing to the Mariners 4-3 on Friday, Angel was 7-10 under Nevin.
There are many reasons for the club's descending spiral, one of which was a wrist injury at the end of the season for third baseman Anthony Rendon.
Matt Duffy has made most of his start on third base since then, but Nevin is looking for help wherever he can get it. One possibility is David McKinnon, who was a big hit in Triple A Salt Lake when he was promoted to the Big Club last Saturday.
He made his first major league start on June 18th with first baseman and won his first major league hit, the RBI single, on Wednesday. He ran on a sacrifice fly. In Salt Lake, McKinnon hit .327 with 13 home runs, 41 RBIs and 1.056 RBIs.
However, finding MacKinnon playtime can be difficult. McKinnon is first baseman, and in 2021 all-star Jared Walsh will only chase Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani with home runs (13) and RBIs (40).
And the designated hitter is held by Otani.
Third base is an ideal place for McKinnon, but he hasn't played on third base since college. He played a second baseman match at Double A Rocket City last season, but at 6 feet 2,200 pounds, he looks like a corner infielder.
McKinnon's Knock, who graduated from college at Hartford, was lacking in power given his size, but the injuries and COVID-19 games of the last few years in the Angels minor league system He had extra time to study the video, and he said those sessions helped.
"I literally studied Mike Trout's swing. He's now my teammate, so it's crazy," McKinnon said. "And Vlad (Guerrero) Jr.'s swing. I'm really good at holding the ground, I use the power of the ground to increase power and reach a consistent position when landing my forefoot.
"If I could do it more consistently, I would be like Mike Trout and I'm not trying to do it consistently like him. I think I can tap.
Left-handed Patrick Sandoval (3-2, 2.70 ERA) made his 12th start of the season on the Los Angeles mound and didn't make a decision on the final start. Mariners, when he gave up 1 run and 4 hits in 6 innings.
He is 0-3 and has an ERA of 3.00 with five career starts with Seattle.
Mariners first baseman Ty France was not included in the lineup on Friday. His availability is unknown after a first baseman collision with Oakland Athletics on Thursday injuring his left elbow. The first x-ray was negative, but Friday's MRI results were withheld.
"I'm still worried," said Mariners manager Scott Survey. "We are never out of the woods. Indeed, he is an important cog in our attack. He is very consistent all year round. What are you trying to get from him every day? I know you're there, and it's hard not to be there. Hopefully it's only a short time. "
Right-handed Logan Gilbert (7-3, 2.28) is in Seattle. After giving up two runs and four hits in six innings against the Angels on Sunday, he will be defeated in his recent start.
He is 2 to 1 and has recorded 3.74 ERA in four career starts with the Angels.
– Field-level media
