The Angels waited as long as they could before putting Chone Figgins on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Figgins has played in 32 games this season for the Angels and he is 37 for 121 (.306 avg, .776 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 7 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Figgins will be replaced at 3B by rookie Brandon Wood and Robb Quinlan. Wood is off to a slow start this season as he has played in 11 games for the Angels and he is 4 for 26 (.154 avg, .483 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. Wood has whiffed an amazing 11 times and he will need to make more contact than that if he wants to stay in the majors. Veteran Robb Quinlan hasn’t got much playing time yet this season. He has played in 13 games for the Angels this season and he is 6 for 29 (.207 avg, .568 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. The Angels will miss Figgins big time for what he does at the top of their batting order.

20-year old righty starting pitcher Jordan Walden is off to a decent start in the minors this season. He has started 6 games in A-ball so far this season and he is 1-3 with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Walden is the #3 prospect in the Angels’ system according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook. They should take their time with Walden and make sure that he’s ready when he gets his chance with the Angels.

Many thought that the Angels were in trouble when John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar started the season on the D.L. but Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders have both stepped up big time for the team. Santana and Saunders were set to battle for the 5th starter job in spring training but the injuries opened up spots for both of them and they seemed to relax and let their talent work for them. Santana has started 7 games this season for the Angels and he is 6-0 with a 2.02 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. He always has had the talent but he had constant brain freezes when pitching on the road. That has not been a problem at all this season. Saunders has to be more fine than Santana because his stuff isn’t as good but he has really pitched well this season. Saunders has started 7 games for the Angels this season and he is 6-0 with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. If these guys both keep pitching as well as they are right now the Angels will have no problem winning the American League West.

The Angels have placed righty pitcher Dustin Moseley on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right forearm. Moseley has pitched in 7 games (5 starts) for the Angels this season and he is 1-3 with a 7.85 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP. He will likely return as the long man in the bullpen after he gets healthy. The Angels have recalled infielder Sean Rodriguez to help fill in for the injured Chone Figgins. He has played in 2 games for the Angels this season and he is 2 for 6 (.333 avg, .833 OPS).

The Angels have placed starting 2B Howie Kendrick on the 15-day disabled list with a strained hamstring. Kendrick has played in 10 games for the Angels this season and he is 18 for 36 (.500 avg, 1.220 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 4 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Angels have recalled 22-year old righty swinging Sean Rodriguez from the minors to replace Kendrick on the active roster. Rodriguez will likely share time with Maicer Izturis until Kendrick is ready to return. Rodriguez has played in 1 game so far for the Angels and he is 1 for 4 (.250 avg). Rodriguez also played in 13 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 15 for 45 (.333 avg, 1.175 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 4 homers, 11 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.