Mike Trout out of lineup Thursday night with hamstring injury

After appearing to get a routine day off, Mike Trout is actually dealing with an injury.

Mike Trout is off to a typically great start this season, with a .358/.452/.717 slash-line, eight home runs, 20 RBI and five stolen bases. That .452 on-base percentage leads the American League heading into Thursday’s action, but having played all 29 of the Angels’ games so far this season Trout was probably due for a night off.

And that’s just what occurred, with Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reporting Trout would sit out against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night, but he wasn’t hurt. Not so fast though, as Trout is actually dealing with what seems like a minor injury.

Trout is dealing with some hamstring tightness, and is probably being deemed day-to-day officially or unofficially. Caution is obviously the word with any injury Trout has, and hamstrings can be tricky.

Cameron Maybin is sliding over to center field  in Trout’s place on Thursday night, and batting sixth against Mariners’ starter Ariel Miranda, with Ben Revere stepping into Maybin’s typical spot in left field. There won’t be much (if any) drop-off defensively behind starter Alex Meyer with Trout out, but the Angels may struggle to scrape together runs without the centerpiece of their lineup.

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Trout does not appear to be facing an extended absence, but any lingering tightness in his hamstring could bring another night off Friday night. Of course there is the option of manager Mike Scioscia to use Trout as a designated hitter, and that may become a more regular thing in the near-term.