Mike Napoli gets start for Angels; Maicer Izturis out with injury

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Mike Napoli was in the starting lineup for Thursday night’s series finale against the New York Yankees, only the third time in 10 games Napoli has gotten the nod behind the plate over catcher Jeff Mathis.

Napoli, who hit 20 home runs in each of the last two seasons, has essentially split the catching job with Mathis for the last two seasons -- Napoli started 100 games last season, 82 of them at catcher and 18 as designated hitter.

But Napoli’s defensive struggles this spring and Mathis’ continued improvement behind the plate has cut into Napoli’s playing time considerably so far this season.

‘It’s frustrating,’ Napoli said before the game. ‘I don’t like coming in here and not seeing my name in the lineup. I’m a competitor. I want to be on the field and part of what’s going on. I don’t feel like a player who should be in the lineup for only two of nine games. I feel like I should be a starter.’

Napoli, who almost always started against left-handed pitchers the last two seasons, was so surprised he was not in the lineup for Tuesday night’s opener against the Yankees and left-hander Andy Pettitte that he went into the manager’s office to speak to Mike Scioscia on Wednesday.

Asked why he is not playing as much as he expected, Napoli said, ‘It’s always the defensive part. I thought I made some strides in spring training. I guess I have to be better. ... I haven’t played much. It caught me by surprise.’

Scioscia has said repeatedly that ‘if one of those guys takes the job and runs with it, great,’ but he wouldn’t say whether Mathis, who is batting .333 in seven games and has played solid defense, has done just that.

‘Mike is going to catch enough to contribute,’ Scioscia said. ‘It’s not going to be a situation like Robb Quinlan had last year, where he sits for 13-14 games. That’s when it becomes a lot tougher to stay sharp. We’re not going to ask Mike to play like that.

‘Playing time is structured on production, and first and foremost, we need that defensive presence behind the plate. ... Jeff is getting more playing time now because he’s playing at a very high level on the defensive side.’

Maicer Izturis was in the original lineup at third base Thursday night but was scratched because of tightness in his throwing shoulder. Brandon Wood will get the start at third.

Reggie Willits, who was activated off the disabled list Wednesday, will start in left field, but Scioscia said starting left fielder Juan Rivera is just getting a day off in advance of Rivera probably starting three games on Toronto’s artificial turf this weekend.

--Mike DiGiovanna in New York