Angels’ Josh Hamilton dealing with stiff right shoulder
By Hayden Kane
Almost everything is going right for the Los Angeles Angels. Take a look at the American League standings and you will find that they have stretched out a seven game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the division.
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One thing that is not going right, however, has to do with the ups and downs of Josh Hamilton. Having already gone through prolonged slumps that are more and more characteristic of his career at this point, Hamilton is now also dealing with a lingering shoulder injury.
A stiff right shoulder has forced Hamilton to miss four straight games. Per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register:
"They will play this one without Josh Hamilton, who is missing his fourth straight game because of stiffness in his right shoulder. Mike Scioscia said Hamilton is day to day."
With expanded rosters and that aforementioned cushion at the top of the AL West, the Angels are probably in an OK position to take it slow with Hamilton and make sure that he is truly healthy before they put him back in the lineup. How Hamilton looks will be a key story in the postseason, as he is the kind of player who could swing a series one way or the other.
Hamilton is batting .263/.331/.415 this season with 10 home runs and 44 RBI in just 88 games of action.
Stay tuned to FanSided for all of the latest news and analysis from Major League Baseball as the season winds down, with the postseason just around the corner.