Paul McAnulty gets start over Mike Napoli at first base Thursday night

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You know you’re not going too good when a guy who has one hit in 18 at-bats is starting in front of you, but that’s the reality Angels first baseman Mike Napoli is facing Thursday night.

Napoli went hitless in 14 at-bats in the final five games before the All-Star break and was on the bench in favor of Paul McAnulty for the team’s first game back out of the break, against the Seattle Mariners in Angel Stadium.

McAnulty, who bats left-handed, does not have a hit since his his July 4 homer against Kansas City in his first game for the Angels.

Manager Mike Scioscia said he won’t use the right-handed hitting Napoli, who is batting .246 with 14 homers and 37 runs batted in but ranks fourth in the American League with 84 strikeouts, and McAnulty in a first-base platoon.

‘We’re still looking to get a combination at the first base position that will add the offensive component we need,’ Scioscia said. ‘Both have the potential to do it, maybe not one guy by himself, but if one guy takes off with the position, great.

‘It won’t be a straight platoon. When Mike is on, he can hit anyone, but we’re looking for more consistency from the position, and if that takes mixing and matching, we’ll go that route.’

--Mike DiGiovanna