Slumping Mike Trout doesn’t need day off, Mike Scioscia says

Mike Trout struck out four times on Sunday, and he enters play Monday tied for the American League lead in strikeouts. He is batting .128 in his past 11 games, with five hits and 14 strikeouts in his past 39 at-bats.

Trout has played in all of the Angels’ first 36 games. He does not see the need for a day off, and neither does Angels Manager Mike Scioscia.

“Even as good as Mike is, hitting is at times cyclical,” Scioscia said. “He hasn’t had as many hits fall in as he had earlier. I’ve got to believe he’s going to be all right.”

And then Scioscia paused, as if someone might believe the manager had even the slightest of doubts.

“I’m saying that tongue in cheek,” Scioscia said.

Scioscia said he does not see the slump wearing on Trout.

“I think Mike is very confident in what he can do. I think Mike is very comfortable in what he can do, “ Scioscia said. “I don’t think there’s a level of frustration that would warrant a mental day off.”

If Trout were going to get a day off, Monday would have been the day. The Angels play in Philadelphia Tuesday and Wednesday, and thousands of people are busing to the games from his nearby hometown of Millville, N.J. If Trout did not play in Philadelphia, Scioscia joked that he would have to answer to Trout’s parents.

Trout will hold a news conference Tuesday to accommodate the heavy media demand.

Scioscia confirmed the Angels would call up right-hander Matt Shoemaker from triple-A Salt Lake to start Tuesday, against Phillies star Cliff Lee. Shoemaker is 1-0 with a 6.31 earned-run average in five starts at Salt Lake; he struck out 11 in his last start.

Shoemaker takes the turn of Hector Santiago, whom the Angels demoted to the bullpen last week.

The Angels also put infielder Ian Stewart on the disabled list because of a bruised left hand and recalled infielder Luis Jimenez from Salt Lake. Jimenez started at third base for the Angels on Monday.