Arguably the two most disappointing teams in the American League this season have been the Angels and Tigers, and they open an all but meaningless three-game series in Detroit on Friday. We probably wouldn't address it in this space but for the fact that three-time AL MVP Mike Trout is set to play in the majors for the first time since July 12. Trout has been dealing with back and ribcage injuries. The Halos are -140 at Caesars Sportsbook.'
If you were wondering, and I was, Trout opened the season as the +450 se cond favorite to teammate and 2021 winner Shohei Ohtani to win another MVP Award this season, and Trout took the betting lead briefly in mid-May. As late as May 28 he was hitting .320 with 13 homers and 28 RBI, but then started cooling off and lost his spot atop the MVP odds back to Ohtani, who then lost it in mid-June to current favorite Aaron Judge.
Trout's last game was July 12 vs. Houston, and he's hitting .270 on the season with 24 homers and 51 RBI in 79 games. He opened as a +2000 sixth-favorite to lead the majors in homers for the first time but obviously won't be doing that (Judge was a +1400 third favorite).
In late July, it was revealed that Trout was dealing with a rare back condition called costovertebral dysfunction, that it was no sure thing he would return this season and it was something he'd have to deal with the rest of his career, but Trout received better news after meeting with noted spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins a few days later.