Ailing wrist keeps Trout out of Angels' lineup

CLEVELAND -- Mike Trout came into the visiting clubhouse at Progressive Field with his right wrist wrapped in medical tape on Friday, knowing the Angels would need to make due without his presence for at least another game.
The All-Star outfielder continues to heal from a right wrist contusion, and was out of the starting lineup for the second game in a row as the Angels open a three-game series with the American League Central-leading Indians. The Halos came into Cleveland looking to end a four-game losing streak.
In Trout's place, manager Mike Scioscia decided to start Eric Young Jr., hoping Trout might come off the bench.
"He's much better than yesterday, but still not [ready]," Scioscia said. "We'll start the game and see if he's available later. But he's gonna continue to get treatment. We'll see how it sets up."
Scioscia said he wants to err on the side of caution when using Trout, who's been day to day since exiting Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Rays. The right-handed-hitting outfielder was held out of the lineup on Thursday, making Friday the third game he has missed all season.

Trout hurt his wrist and exited in the first inning after sliding into third base on an attempted steal on Wednesday. He tried to hook around the bag to avoid a tag from third baseman Matt Duffy, and put his right wrist down twice to brace himself as he slid.
X-rays and an MRI only revealed inflammation in Trout's wrist, and the outfielder said it's felt much better over the last couple of days as he continues to ice and compress it to reduce swelling.
"I'm a lot better than yesterday," Trout said. "I think today I'm getting the day off. Just come in tomorrow and hopefully play."
Trout's ailment is the first injury that's affected his playing time since last season, when he tore a ligament in his left thumb, sidelining him for six weeks.
Barring a setback, Trout -- who turns 27 on Tuesday and is batting .309 with a 1.083 OPS and 30 home runs in 109 games -- believes he'll be healthy enough to start in center field on Saturday.
"I'll just give it another day to heal," Trout said. "I want to play center. If I come in tomorrow and it feels good, then I'm gonna play."
Ohtani progressing
Scioscia also said Shohei Ohtani has made progress in a throwing program as the two-way phenom tries to work back to pitching form. Ohtani last pitched on June 6 and was placed on the disabled list shortly thereafter with a UCL sprain in his right elbow.
Scioscia said Ohtani is playing long toss from about 105 feet and threw two bullpen sessions while in St. Petersburg this week, with hopes of returning to the mound sooner rather than later.
"He's had no setbacks, but realistically speaking, hopefully in a couple weeks," Scioscia said. "Once he gets out there to 180 feet, 200 feet, we'll start to get an idea how he's feeling and we'll see when the next step might come. It's a continuing evaluation. It might take a while for him to get where he needs to be with long toss."
Ohtani was reinstated from the disabled list as a batter on July 3 and has hit in 22 games since, slashing .200/.257/.415 in that span. Though the 24-year-old rookie has struggled since returning from the DL, he's batting .294/.364/.595 against right-handed pitching, and hit third in the lineup Friday against Indians right-hander Mike Clevinger.
"Like any hitter, you go through cycles where you're not squaring the ball up," Scioscia said of Ohtani. "He's missed some pitches and he's hit some balls hard and clean, but there's also been some times where he struck out."