Angels lineup for Thursday night’s game: Same as it ever was

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If Mike Scioscia had some more attractive options, he might have shaken up the lineup for Thursday night’s game against the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park, but the Angels will try to snap their six-game losing streak with virtually the same lineup they’ve used on this trip.

‘What it comes down to is the chemistry of this lineup, when it does come, will be the best way we can line up right now,’ Scioscia said. ‘We want to keep giving this look as much time as we can.’

Scioscia doesn’t really have a choice. Maicer Izturis would be a logical replacement at the top of the order for Erick Aybar, who is batting .167 (four for 24) on the trip, but Izturis’ throwing shoulder is so sore the Angels considered putting him on the disabled list Thursday.

Izturis, who aggravated the shoulder diving for a ball at third base Monday night, started at designated hitter Wednesday night, but he can only play the field in an emergency.

‘Izzy did a terrific job for us last year,’ Scioscia said. ‘He’s a guy who would definitely be able to get in there and hit in a variety of positions and take some pressure off some guys or give us a spark.’

The Angels are batting .226 (44 for 195) on the trip, they’ve been outscored, 43-19, and outhomered, 10-2. Their 12-17 start is their slowest since 1994, when they went 11-18 in their first 29 games.

The one change Scioscia did make Thursday is he cancelled batting practice. Players hit in the indoor batting cages before the game.

‘There’s been a lot of extra batting practice and extra defense, and we had early work yesterday,’ Scioscia said. ‘After last night’s game, we all felt we would come here, get loose, and see if mentally we could get guys to just go out there and play baseball.’

--Mike DiGiovanna in Boston