Angels spring training report: Hunter, Kendrick return to lineup
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Fans in Tempe Diablo Stadium on Friday will see a lineup very similar to what the Angels will field on opening day, with center fielder Torii Hunter, sidelined for a week because of a minor groin injury, and second baseman Howie Kendrick, out for three days because of a sore arm, returning to action against the Chicago White Sox.
Bobby Abreu, Maicer Izturis, Hideki Matsui, Kendry Morales and Juan Rivera are also in the lineup, but shortstop Erick Aybar is down for a couple of days because of a sore elbow, an injury that is not considered serious.
Left-hander Joe Saunders will start opposite White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy, and four of the Angels’ top relievers, Brian Fuentes, Scot Shields, Jason Bulger and Brian Stokes, are scheduled to pitch.
For Shields, it will be his first game action since last May 26, when the pain in his left knee became so unbearable that the right-hander decided to undergo season-ending surgery to repair the patella tendon. Shields threw a 20-pitch simulated game on Wednesday.
‘You can simulate this stuff as much as you want -- he had a great workout down on Field 1 the other day,’ Manager Mike Scioscia said. ‘It’s not going to match not only the intensity of a spring-training game, but taking it into a regular-season game.
‘The intensity of the game situation, from having to hold runners to fielding your position, it’s a different feel. We’ve gotten him far enough along, and now he’s ready for this challenge.’
Another group of Angels will travel to Goodyear, Ariz., for a split-squad game against the Cleveland Indians. The lineups for both games:
Vs. WHITE SOX
3B Maicer Izturis
RF Bobby Abreu
CF Torii Hunter
DH Hideki Matsui
1B Kendry Morales
LF Juan Rivera
2B Howie Kendrick
C Bobby Wilson
SS Gary Patchett
P Joe Saunders
Vs. INDIANS
RF Reggie Willits
DH Jeff Mathis
C Mike Napoli
3B Brandon Wood
1B Freddy Sandoval
LF Michael Ryan
CF Peter Bourjos
2B Ryan Mount
SS Kevin Romine
P Matt Palmer
-- Mike DiGiovanna in Tempe, Ariz.