BALTIMORE — Looking to do anything to wake up his slumbering lineup, Angels manager Kurt Suzuki finally moved Zach Neto out of the leadoff spot.
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The shortstop had batted first almost the entire season. He’d been in a 5-for-40 slump, with 16 strikeouts, though. For the season, he’s hitting only .228 with a .316 on-base percentage, and he’s been on a record strikeout pace.
Wade Meckler hit first Thursday afternoon against the Orioles, with Neto moved into the No. 4 spot.
“Really just trying to mix things up a little bit, obviously,” Suzuki said. “Try to get something going and change it up. I really like the way Meck’s been swinging the bat and what he’s been doing. Maybe just change it up that way and see if we can get something started.”
Neto didn’t have much to say about the change.
“I feel good,” he said. “I don’t make the lineup.”
Asked how he’s been feeling at the plate, Neto said: “Good.”
Suzuki dropped Neto out of the leadoff spot for three games in May, but the change didn’t stick.
“We’ll take it day by day,” Suzuki said. “I think we’ll just kind of see how it plays out. Maybe against lefties he goes back to the top. I don’t know. I just feel like now is the time to try to creative and try different things.”
Neto’s recent slump coincides with the increase in talk about him possibly being traded. Neto said last week that his focus “has always been the same,” but he also acknowledged that the trade talk was difficult.
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“It’s probably one of the most stressful weeks during the year, so I’m just glad it’s over with,” Neto said Thursday.
Neto would not address a report that interim general manager John Mozeliak told him the Angels plan to keep him long-term to build around him.
“I’m not going to answer that,” he said.
NOTES
Third baseman Denzer Guzman was out of the lineup for a second straight game on Thursday. “We’ve got a lot of infielders and I’m trying to give everybody opportunities,” Suzuki said. Oswald Peraza started instead. Suzuki had started left-handed hitting Adam Frazier against a lefty Wednesday, and the right-handed hitting Peraza against a righty Thursday. “I know it doesn’t make sense on paper,” Suzuki said. “I just talked to these guys. Frazier can, I know his numbers probably don’t show it, but I trust him to hit anybody. He’s a baseball player. He can do baseball things. I have no issues playing him (against a) lefty or righty.” …
Right-hander Ben Joyce was not available to pitch Thursday, after making his first appearance since shoulder surgery last year. Suzuki said they aren’t ready to have Joyce pitch on back-to-back days. …
The Angels are bringing George Klassen back to the major leagues for the first time since April, to start on Friday. Klassen has been much better lately in the minors, winning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month for July.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP George Klassen, 0-1, 11.57 ERA) at Marlins (RHP Tyler Phillips, 3-5, 3.53 ERA), Friday, 4:10 p.m. PT, ABTV, 830 AM