Injuries aren’t excuse to Scioscia

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Although the Angels entered Monday in second place in the American League in batting and scoring, Manager Mike Scioscia said they still haven’t hit their stride on offense.

And then, as if to prove their manager right, the Angels managed only a pair of harmless singles in seven innings against Brett Tomko, a guy with a 6.26 earned-run average whom they had battered for five runs less than three weeks ago.

But Scioscia refuses to blame the slump on the spate of injuries that has already forced him to use a league-high 18 position players through 34 games.

“You have to deal with what happens,” he said. “I don’t know if you can point to a continuity thing where guys have been in and out of the lineup. Some guys just haven’t hit their stride offensively.

“And until that happens, the framework of the lineup isn’t really going to materialize.”

Gone from that framework is Howie Kendrick, who was batting .500 when he went on the disabled list 2 1/2 weeks ago, and leadoff hitter Chone Figgins, who topped the team in hits (37) and runs (18) when he strained his hamstring Saturday.

Kendrick’s absence, combined with the lower back strain that sent Maicer Izturis to the disabled list last week, has forced Scioscia to use four players at both second and third base already this season.

The Angels needed only 36 players to get through last season, but they have already used 33 through five weeks this year. Only two teams in the majors have used more.

“There have been some new faces, sure,” Scioscia said. “But I’d rather have that depth at triple A.”

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Help may be on the way for the Angels, who have won seven of their last 11 games despite averaging less than 4.4 runs a contest.

Kendrick is scheduled to play a second rehabilitation game for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga tonight and could be back in the lineup by the weekend, as could Figgins, who is expected to begin running again today.

“We want to get this thing behind him,” Scioscia said of Kendrick, who sat out 67 games last season because of two finger fractures. “And if he’s at a level he feels good, we’ll evaluate him and see when he can rejoin us.”

Figgins, who said his hamstring felt better, played catch Monday. Scioscia said he might be available in an emergency situation Wednesday, but the manager would prefer to wait until after the off day on Thursday, putting Figgins back on the field Friday in Tampa.

Izturis is also making progress, although he won’t be eligible to come off the disabled list until the Angels return home next week.

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Right-hander Dustin Moseley said the forearm tightness that forced him to the disabled list last week is related to the minor elbow surgery he had last October.

“Any time your body gets cut on, it’s probably going to protect that area,” said Moseley, who lost his spot in the rotation after going 1-2 with a 7.30 ERA in five starts. “I’m dealing with some tightness and different things going on. It’s been on and off ever since spring training. It’s tough to get on top of the baseball sometimes.”

Moseley, who said he also has some problems to work out in his delivery, will probably test his arm in a bullpen session this week.

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kevin.baxter@latimes.com