Angels activate Kinsler from DL in midst of win streak
The Los Angeles Angels will have Ian Kinsler back at the top of their lineup on Thursday after activating the second baseman from the disabled list.
Kinsler had been out of action since suffering a groin injury during the first game of the season.
The Angels, currently riding a four-game win streak, open a weekend series against the Kansas City Royals which will span four games at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals are 3-7 for the season and have yet to win a series in the 2018 campaign.
In order to make room on the roster, infielder Ryan Schimpf was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. Meanwhile, Zack Cozart, who filled in at second base in Kinsler's absence, got the day off Thursday with Luis Valbuena at third base and Andrelton Simmons at shortstop.
The Angels acquired the 35-year-old Kinsler over the offseason from the Detroit Tigers for a pair of minor-leaguers. Coming off of a season during which the infielder posted a .725 OPS over 139 games, Kinsler is in the final term of a five-year, $85-million deal that will pay him $11 million in 2018.