Juan Rivera, Maicer Izturis are not in Angels' lineup against Kansas City
Neither left fielder Juan Rivera nor infielder Maicer Izturis are in the lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Kansas City Royals, who will start ace and 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke against Angels ace Jered Weaver.
Rivera is still sore after fouling a ball off his left big toe Wednesday night, but he expects to return to the lineup Friday night in Seattle. Izturis, who replaced the struggling Erick Aybar in the leadoff spot Wednesday night, has a history of nagging injuries, but Manager Mike Scioscia said he is sound.
"We're just trying to pace Izzy," Scioscia said. "With a day game after last night's game, we wanted to split [his starts] up. He's fine."
Reggie Willits will replace Rivera and bat ninth, Kevin Frandsen will start at third base and bat eighth, and Michael Ryan will play first base and bat seventh. Aybar is back in the leadoff spot.
Greinke has a 1-6 record and 3.39 earned run average, and the Royals have scored a total of 22 runs for him while he's been on the mound, an average of 2.87 per nine innings, third-fewest in the league.
The right-hander has left a game in line for the win five times and received four no-decisions and his lone victory, against Cleveland on May 13, in those games. Kansas City has scored two or fewer runs for him in six of his 11 starts.
--Mike DiGiovanna in Kansas City
