Slumping Trumbo gets seat on bench

Mark Trumbo is mature for a 25-year-old with one year of major league experience. The rookie first baseman says he has “a pretty good perspective on things,” and knows hot streaks and slumps are “part of a 162-game season.”

But consecutive games like Trumbo had Sunday and Monday night, when he was 0 for 8 with four strikeouts and twice failed to score runners from third with fewer than two out in losses to the Yankees and A’s, have strained that outlook.

“You’re never as good as you think you are, and you’re never as bad as you think you are, but sometimes I get way too down on myself,” said Trumbo, who leads the team with 26 home runs and 80 runs batted in.

“I’ve had a couple of rough games. I take it as hard as anybody. It wears on me. I understand we’re in a pennant race with a very limited amount of games left, and that can add to the pressure.”

Manager Mike Scioscia has noticed. Trumbo, who had started 45 of 46 games since July 24, was not in the lineup Tuesday. Howie Kendrick made his first start at first base since July 3, and Maicer Izturis played second.

“His last 10 at-bats, we’ve seen a little tighter grip on the bat,” Scioscia said of Trumbo. “This is a good time for him to catch his breath, and hopefully he’ll finish strong.”

Like most struggling rookies, Trumbo is expanding the strike zone even more than usual for a young slugger not known for plate discipline -- he has 108 strikeouts and 25 walks in 496 at-bats.

In Sunday’s 6-5 loss, Trumbo popped out with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning, and the Angels leading, 5-4. In the seventh, with runners on second and third and two out, he grounded out.

Trumbo struck out three times in Monday night’s 6-3 loss in Oakland, once with men on second and third with none out in the fourth.

“I fouled off some pitches I could have handled, and I haven’t gotten a ton of good pitches to hit,” said Trumbo, who is batting .111 (five for 45) with 18 strikeouts against the Athletics.

Growing pains

Mike Trout, who has two hits in his last 25 at-bats, took a seat next to Trumbo on the bench Tuesday night. The 20-year-old outfielder has excellent plate discipline for his age but is having Trumbo-like problems.

“I’ve been chasing pitches away,” said Trout, who has nine strikeouts in his last five starts, one with a runner on third and one out Monday night. “And once I get out of my zone, I start thinking. I have to recognize that pitch and know where it’s going to end up.”

Peter Bourjos also had rough games Sunday and Monday, misplaying two balls in center field in Sunday’s loss and going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts Monday.

Could the Angels’ youngsters be succumbing to pennant-race pressure?

“They’ve had some rough days, and it’s affected where those games ended up, but I don’t think the focus should be just on the young guys,” Scioscia said. “These guys have gotten us here, and they’ll finish strong down the stretch.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com