Angels Starting Infielder Scratched From Lineup With Injury

Not a great sign.

Angels starting first baseman Nolan Schanuel has been scratched from Monday's Cactus League game with back tightness, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.

Nolan Schanuel has been scratched from the Angels lineup because of back tightness.

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) March 18, 2024

Schanuel was expected to hit second behind Aaron Hicks, but will now miss Monday's game. He was replaced by Miguel Sano at first base, and Livan Soto joined the lineup at third base (Sano's original position).

This is a new issue for Schanuel, but hopefully it's not too severe.

The Angels open their season in 10 days against the Baltimore Orioles, and Schanuel will be a big part of their plans all year long.

Schanuel, who will be the everyday first baseman and two-hole hitter, has had a solid spring, slashing .244/.311/.366 with one home run and four runs batted in.

He'll be entering the 2024 season trying to keep his 29-game on-base streak alive, as he reached in every game during his rookie season, slashing .275/.402/.330 with one home run, six runs batted in and 20 walks.

Hopefully this is just a minor issue for Schanuel, and he's able to rejoin the lineup in the coming days with ample time to get ready for Opening Day.