CLEVELAND — A day after Mike Trout hit in the lowest spot he’d been in a starting lineup since his rookie year, he moved even lower.

Trout was hitting sixth for the Angels on Saturday in Cleveland. Trout batted at the bottom of the lineup when he was first reached the majors in 2011, but after he returned to the majors for good in 2012, he never hit lower than third.

Manager Ron Washington said Friday, the day that Trout returned from a month on the injured list, that he was accounting for the fact that Trout did not have any kind of rehab assignment. He saw 30 pitches from a minor leaguer Wednesday, and then returned to the lineup.

Batting fifth Friday, Trout hit two balls hard — both were outs — and had a bloop single, to go with two strikeouts in a 1-for-5 return.

In Saturday’s 7-5 loss to the Guardians, Trout was one spot lower because third baseman Yoán Moncada returned to the No. 3 spot after being out with a sore knee.

Trout responded by collecting three hits for the first time since April 2024. He drove in a run with a double.

“He looked good today, and he got it off some good pitchers,” Washington said after Saturday’s game. “Last night was good. Today was even better. So we’ve just got to hope that he just keeps building.”

Asked after the game if Trout is ready to move back up to one of his customary lineup spots, Washington said: “I’m gonna give him one more day there, and then we’ll see about that when we get to Boston. Just want him to get comfortable first.”

Trout’s return to the DH spot also created a lineup problem for Washington at the catcher spot.

Washington has been using Travis d’Arnaud to catch veteran starters Kyle Hendricks and Yusei Kikuchi. Over the past few weeks, Logan O’Hoppe often was in the lineup at DH on those days. Now, Trout is going to be holding down the DH spot until they are comfortable putting him in right field. O’Hoppe was on the bench Saturday.

“We knew that the DH once Mike came back was going to be coveted,” Washington said. “If we gotta change something, we’ll change it, but d’Arnaud has been doing a good job with those guys and he’s going to keep (catching) those guys until further notice.”

Trout has not yet done defensive drills. Washington said he might start working out in the outfield in Boston, after this weekend.

“Hopefully, by the time we get to Boston, we’ve gotten to that point where he can get out there and move around and do something,” Washington said. “But right now, all we want him to do is hit. We’re not going to force that or push that until he feels he’s ready to do it.”

STEPHENSON UPDATE

Right-hander Robert Stephenson remained on the active roster Saturday, a day after coming out of the game with biceps discomfort.

The Angels did not have him try to throw. They also did not have him undergo any further testing.

Stephenson said after Friday’s game that he hoped there was nothing serious wrong with his arm, and he was encouraged by the fact that the discomfort was in the middle of the biceps, not the elbow.

Stephenson returned this week from a 13-month rehab following Tommy John surgery. He pitched a perfect inning on 12 pitches Wednesday. On Friday, he came out after three pitches.

Also

Outfielder Jo Adell has hit .320 with a .308 with a .934 OPS in his past eight games, including a two-run homer on Saturday. He also struck out just three times in 29 plate appearances. “The hard work he’s putting in, hopefully it’s beginning to pay off,” Washington said. “Jo has been grinding since Day 1. All the work he’s been putting in, it’s time for it to pay off. He’s not just trying to hit the ball out the ballpark. He’s getting base hits all kinds of ways.” ...

Right-hander José Fermin (right elbow impingement) was set to begin a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday. ...

Catcher Chuckie Robinson, who was designated for assignment earlier this week, was claimed by the Dodgers.