Track-It Erick Aybar

Published Tuesday, Apr 23, 2013 at 10:27 pm EDT Last updated 1 hour and 22 minutes ago ANAHEIM, Calif.—This year, the dream of a Freeway Series finally could become reality. After 51 seasons of Southern Californians staring down Interstate 5 at...

April has not exactly gone as planned for these teams and players, including some of the game's biggest names. Cliff Corcoran takes stock of whether these slow starts will continue.

With lefty Derek Holland taking the ball in the series opener against the Rangers, Angels manager Mike Scioscia put Josh Hamilton in the No. 5 spot and made the hot-hitting Mark Trumbo his cleanup hitter behind Albert Pujols.

Twice on Sunday -- with a man on third and two outs in the seventh, and with none on and two outs in the 12th -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland opted to walk Albert Pujols and pitch to Josh Hamilton.

Prior to Saturday's contest against the Tigers, Halos reliever Mark Lowe went on the 15 day disabled left with stiffness in his neck and utility infielder Tommy Field was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake.

Howie Kendrick has been an active player for a game on April 15 for each of the last seven seasons. But wearing Jackie Robinson's No. 42, which all players do on the anniversary of Robinson's debut, hasn't gotten old.

The Angels are still holding out hope that Alberto Callaspo can avoid a stint on the disabled list, but his tight right calf has held him out of four straight games and is expected to keep him on the shelf until at least Friday.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run double off Jose Veras with two outs in the ninth inning, Josh Hamilton hit his first home run for the Angels and Los Angeles beat the Houston Astros 5-4 Saturday night to stop a five-game losing streak.