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Angels’ Brandon Wood appears headed for the disabled list

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You had to read between the lines, but there are strong indications that Brandon Wood will be placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday or Wednesday because of a hip flexor strain, a setback that will give the struggling Angels third baseman a chance to find his swing on a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

Wood, who is batting .156 with two homers, one double, seven runs batted in, 36 strikeouts and two walks in 122 at-bats, was not in the lineup for Monday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, the third straight game he has not started.

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Manager Mike Scioscia said Wood is ‘a little banged up’ and that he is giving Wood a chance to ‘catch his breath mentally and physically.’ Asked to elaborate on Wood’s injury, Scioscia said the infielder ‘has a little hip flexor.’

How convenient.

Maicer Izturis, sidelined since May 6 because of shoulder inflammation, has been throwing for several days, and Scioscia said he could be activated Tuesday or Wednesday. Izturis, a clutch hitter and superb defender, can play third base, shortstop and second but is expected to get most of his starts at third, pushing Wood to the bench.

Wood is out of options, meaning he would have to clear waivers before the Angels could send him to triple-A Salt Lake. But by putting Wood on the disabled list, the Angels could extend Wood’s mental break and then send him on a rehabilitation assignment, perhaps a lengthy one, to give him a chance to find his stroke in a low-pressure environment.

‘You never want to say [going to the minor leagues] will help, because every day I come to the park I think this is going to be the day I get my hits and it all turns around,’ Wood said. ‘But you never know. A change of pace might help.’

Wood said the injury ‘crept up on me the last few days’ and that he suffered it while ‘trying to create some torque’ on his swings.

--Mike DiGiovanna

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