MLB Game Preview - Detroit at LA Angels

Wed Jul 31, 2019 4:07 PM EDT

Justin Upton is expected back in the lineup for the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday when they play the Detroit Tigers in the final game of the three-game series in Anaheim, Calif.

Upton was given the day off Tuesday by Angels manager Brad Ausmus so Upton could "clear his head." Upton has had a rough season, starting when he sprained his left big toe running into the outfield wall during spring training.

The injury kept him out of the Angels' first 72 games, and he has struggled since joining the roster on June 17.

The 13-year veteran is hitting just .224/.303/.402 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in 29 games overall, and he's been especially off his game of late with just one hit in his past 20 at-bats. Ausmus knows Upton well -- he was Upton's manager when the two were in Detroit.

"Went through a similar stretch in Detroit," Ausmus said. "Having gone through it, taking a step back and not dealing with in-game at-bats can somehow speed the process. Go through his work today, talk during the postgame and see if we want it more than one day."

Brian Goodwin started in left field Tuesday and had two hits, but Goodwin is a left-handed hitter and the Tigers will start lefty Daniel Norris on the mound Wednesday.

Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun, though, should be in the starting lineup even though he hits from the left side, as well. He's hit Norris well, going 3-for-5 with a home run and three walks against the southpaw in his career.

Norris, who is 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA in three career starts against the Angels, might be throwing to catcher Jake Rogers, who was called up Tuesday and made his major league debut.

Rogers also got his first major league hit and first RBI in the Tigers' 6-1 loss. He is the first prospect to reach the majors among those acquired from the Houston Astros in the trade for pitcher Justin Verlander two years ago, and a lot is expected of him.

"I get excited watching a guy play with all that talent," Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. "And that is what I told him, to just go play, do what you have been doing, and he will be fine. He knows how to catch a ballgame. The hitting part, we'll see where he's at and work on it if we need to, but first just let him get his feet wet and go. Just let him go."

Left-hander Jose Suarez (2-1, 5.35) will start for the Angels, coming off a no-decision in his last start against Baltimore. Suarez has made eight starts this season, but has only two wins, and none since June 15 against the Rays. He has never faced the Tigers.

Though he hasn't piled up the wins, he has kept the Angels in nearly every game he's pitched. Only once has he allowed more than three runs in a game.

--Field Level Media