ANAHEIM -- Angels second baseman Brandon Phillips sat out Saturday's 2-0 win over the Rangers with lower back tightness, though manager Mike Scioscia said he is day to day and could return to action on Sunday.
Phillips tweaked his back on a swing on Friday night and departed the Angels' 7-6 win after seven innings. The 36-year-old veteran had started 13 consecutive games at second base and batted leadoff for the Angels since they acquired him from the Braves on Aug. 31.
"He's feeling better today," Scioscia said. "Not enough to where he can go out and do the things he needs to do, but he's day to day."
With Phillips sidelined and left-hander Cole Hamels on the mound for Texas, the Angels decided to move Michael Trout into the leadoff spot for the first time since June 18, 2013. Trout has hit .326 in 157 career games at the top of the order.
"There's not a lot of flexibility in our lineup today with some of the guys that are banged up, so we need to just line them up and try to get guys as many looks as they can at Hamels," Scioscia said. "That's why Mike is leading off."
Cliff Pennington started at second in Phillips' place on Saturday.
Worth noting
• Left-hander Andrew Heaney (shoulder impingement) played catch on Saturday for the first time since Tuesday. Heaney missed his scheduled start against the Rangers on Friday, and the Angels could push his next turn in the rotation to as late as next Saturday, though it's unclear if he'll be ready to return at that point.
• Third baseman Yunel Escobar (right oblique strain) is scheduled resume taking swings on Tuesday.
• Rookie reliever Keynan Middleton (right ulnar nerve irritation) went through his pregame routine on Saturday, and Scioscia said he could be available against the Rangers.