Rendon is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Miami, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rendon batted leadoff in each of the first five games this season but is still looking for his first hit. Luis Rengifo will take his spot both at the top of the batting order and at third base.

Rendon will start at third base and bat leadoff in Thursday's season opener versus the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Angels manager Ron Washington toyed with the idea of batting Rendon at the top of the order later on in spring training, and the veteran skipper decided to carry it into the season. Rendon will be followed by Aaron Hicks, Mike Trout and Taylor Ward.

Angels manager Ron Washington said he's experimenting with Rendon batting leadoff in Wednesday's Cactus League game since the team doesn't have an ideal option, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rendon wouldn't offer much speed at the top of the lineup with just two steals in each of the past two seasons, but he does have a career 11 percent walk rate. The 33-year-old has primarily hit third or fourth since joining the Angels in 2020, but his spot in the order at this point is really secondary. Rendon has played in just 148 games over the past three seasons, and even when available he hasn't been particularly productive with a .701 OPS.

Rendon (groin) will start at third base and bat cleanup in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Padres, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

As anticipated, Rendon will make his return to the lineup for the first time in one week after he reported groin discomfort following his most recent spring appearance last Sunday. The missed week of action shouldn't put Rendon too far behind his healthy teammates as Opening Day approaches. Heading into the fifth season of the seven-year, $245 million megadeal he signed with the Angels in December 2019, the 33-year-old Rendon will be looking to bounce back after he posted a career-worst .679 OPS over 183 plate appearances during an injury-shortened 2023 campaign.

Manager Ron Washington said he expects Rendon (groin) to return to the Angels' lineup Sunday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Groin discomfort has prevented Rendon from playing in Cactus League games since Sunday, but it appears his absence won't extend longer than a week. Rendon has logged two hits in 10 at-bats so far this spring while drawing four walks and scoring twice. He posted a .679 OPS last season -- the lowest mark of his 11-year career -- and he hasn't eclipsed 250 plate appearances in a season since joining the Angels in 2020.

Rendon (groin) said that he's showing improvement and may be able to face live pitching in batting practice Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Even if the Angels elect to hold Rendon out of live batting practice Thursday, the veteran third baseman is optimistic that he'll rejoin the Cactus League lineup "soon." He clarified that the groin discomfort he's experiencing is more along the lines of soreness rather than a strain, adding that he's proceeding cautiously just to prevent the issue from worsening and becoming something that plagues him all season.

Rendon (groin) will go through a normal workout Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rendon took it easy for a couple days after feeling some discomfort in his groin Sunday. He's ready to ramp back up again, however, and should return to Cactus League games before long if all goes well. The veteran third baseman is slated to bat cleanup for the Angels this season.

Rendon reported discomfort in his groin Sunday and will be out through at least Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Ron Washington said he's not too concerned about Rendon's injury but noted that Rendon's absence may extend beyond Wednesday if he's not at 100 percent. Rendon is currently 2-for-10 with four walks and two runs scored through six Cactus League games and is in line to serve as the Angels' cleanup hitter once the regular season begins.

Angels manager Ron Washington said Thursday that Rendon (lower leg) will be the team's cleanup hitter this season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

That's for days he's not on the injured list, of course. Rendon has played just 200 of a possible 546 games in four seasons with the Angels due to a variety of injuries but doesn't appear to be under any restrictions this spring. It's possible the Angels elect to use him often at designated hitter in 2024 in hopes that it will help keep him on the field.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said Saturday that Rendon (lower leg) isn't expected to play again before the end of the season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rendon has been participating in baseball activities since early September as he recovers from a fractured tibia, but Nevin said Rendon hasn't progressed enough to be activated before the end of the year. Rendon will finish 2023 with a .236/.361/.318 slash line to go along with two homers and 22 RBI across 183 plate appearances.