ANAHEIM >> Mike Trout continues to make progress toward a return this season.

The Angels’ three-time American League MVP began doing rotational exercises Wednesday, in preparation toward swinging the bat, head athletic trainer Mike Frostad said Thursday.

“Mike’s doing well,” Frostad said. “He’s progressing as we expected. He’s just continuing to go through his program right now. Everything’s looking good.”

Frostad said they will “take it day to day” with Trout to determine when he can advance to swinging a bat.

Trout will not travel with the Angels on their upcoming trip to Seattle and Oakland.

Trout is out with rib cage inflammation, which has been more specifically described as a costovertebral dysfunction. Trout said he fully expects to play again this year, although he acknowledges he’ll need to do exercises to maintain his back going forward.

When the Angels traded Brandon Marsh on Tuesday, eliminating their best safety net in center field if Trout can’t come back to be the everyday player in that position, GM Perry Minasian said he’s not expecting that to be an issue.

“I fully expect him to play again this season,” Minasian said. “I know he’s excited to get back on the field and working really hard to get there.”

Ohtani plays

Shohei Ohtani returned to the Angels’ lineup Thursday, a day after he had to come out of the game with a cramp in his forearm. He later hit two homers and singled, proving that his arm is not an issue.

“It’s fine,” Frostad said. “It was a precautionary move last night and everything checked out today. … Very minimal concern on our end.”

Manager Phil Nevin said he’s been inclined to give Ohtani some days off, but Ohtani has assured him he’s fine. Ohtani has started every game since June 17.

“I leave it in his hands mostly, but you can probably expect (a day off) here soon,” Nevin said. “I like to do it like if we have an off day and we’ll get it in front or behind an off day. It’s all things that he and I talk about daily. When he feels good and wants to play, I’m going to play him.”

Nevin also rejected the notion that Ohtani is more susceptible to injury because he’s been throwing so many sliders lately. Ohtani has thrown his slider 56.3% of the time in his last two starts, after throwing it 33.3% previously this season.

“I’m really not worried about that,” Nevin said. “He’s very smart, as far as his game preparation when he goes over hitters. That’s why he’s one of the best in the league. He does have a dynamic fastball as well. The curveball is really good. The cutter’s really good. The split is really good. The two-seamer is good. Right now he just knows the slider’s a good pitch that he can land for a strike and it’s a pitch he gets a swing and miss on. So he’s throwing it a lot and it’s been effective.”

Ohtani’s next start is scheduled for Tuesday night in Oakland. It will be his fourth try at his 10th victory of the season. The Angels have scored only one run while he’s been pitching in the previous three starts combined.

Also

Nevin dropped first baseman Jared Walsh to the No. 6 spot in the lineup because he’s hit .140 with a .405 OPS over the past 24 games. That included an encouraging stretch just after the break when he was 7 for 17 over a four-game span. He followed that by going 1 for 22. “He’s scuffling,” Nevin said. “It’s definitely not going to stay that way. It’s just a temporary thing to take a little pressure off for a day with the way the matchup is today.” … Right-hander Touki Toussaint was scheduled to start for the Angels in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Seattle, but the Angels needed him in relief Thursday, so they have not determined who will start that game. Reid Detmers will start the second game. Tucker Davidson, who was just acquired from Atlanta in the Raisel Iglesias trade, will start Sunday. … Right-hander Griffin Canning (back) is officially now out for the season, Frostad said. That’s been obvious for weeks because Canning still has not thrown since he was shut down in May. Frostad said they are still trying to get the former Santa Margarita High and UCLA standout back next season without the need for surgery.