The return of Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout has loomed large over the first two games of their series against the Guardians in Cleveland.
Next could be the comeback of Cleveland’s All-Star designated hitter David Fry, who is expected to make his season debut Sunday.
Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (3-6, 5.07 ERA) takes on Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (2-3, 4.27) in the rubber match.
Fry was initially thought to be out until July after having reconstructive surgery on his right elbow shortly after the Guardians lost the 2024 American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees.
Modern medicine and his uncanny healing ability, however, pushed up the timetable. And when Lane Thomas was forced to go back on the injured list this weekend with right plantar fasciitis, Fry successfully made his case to be activated.
“I haven’t had any issues with being sore or anything like that, no problems,” said Fry, who batted .103 with one home run in nine rehab games at three levels of the minor league system. “I feel like I’ve been preparing for a while to get here. I feel ready.”
Fry provided the Guardians with two memorable moments in their AL Division Series win over the Detroit Tigers, none bigger than his season-saving homer on the road in Game 4.
Playing catcher remains out of the question, but manager Stephen Vogt isn’t closing the door on potentially using Fry at first base or in the outfield much later in the season.
“We’re not ruling anything out,” Vogt said. “The most important thing is for him to fully recover from this. But right now, he’s a much-needed, right-handed bat as the DH and being able to come off the bench and pinch hit.”
Trout is 4-for-9 with an RBI double in two games since rejoining the active roster when the Angels landed in Cleveland. The three-time AL MVP missed 26 games with a bone bruise on his left knee and also is being limited to designated hitter duties.
After collecting his first three-hit game since April 8 of last year and his first such performance on the road in two years Saturday, he feels right at home.
“It felt good to see something drop,” Trout said. “At the beginning of the year, I was hitting the ball hard and right at people. Things weren’t dropping, either.”
Los Angeles could use any help he could provide after blowing a four-run lead Saturday in a 7-5 loss, snapping its eight-game road winning streak. The Angels have lost six of their last seven games overall.
Kochanowicz is coming off a loss Monday to the New York Yankees but beat the Guardians on April 5 in his first appearance against them. He worked five innings and allowed two earned runs during Cleveland’s season-opening road trip.
“I’m taking wins anyway I can get them,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “Inconsistent. That’s the way our season has gone.”
Williams has only started once against the Angels, taking a no-decision in allowing two earned runs over three innings on the aforementioned trip.
–Field Level Media
