Angels: Mike Trout won’t stop headfirst slides despite injuries to others: “I’ve been doing it my whole career.” … RF Josh Hamilton, who hasn’t played since April 8 because of a torn ligament in his left thumb, started taking batting practice at the team’s Arizona training facility. … According to the Los Angeles Times, 1B C.J. Cron became the first Angels player since 1979 to drive in a run on the first major league pitch he saw. He is the fourth player in Angels history, and first since Kendrys Morales, to collect three hits in his major league debut. Cron’s three hits were one more than his father’s entire major league total. Chris Cron was 2 for 25 in 12 games with the Angels and Chicago White Sox between 1991 and 1992.

Astros: The Astros, who have the worst record in the majors, had a team meeting recently and manager Bo Porter told his players that they need to realize there is a lot of baseball left to play this season. “I wanted to make sure that as a team, we don’t lose sight of that,” Porter said. … Porter said RHP Matt Albers, on the DL with shoulder tendinitis, is “getting closer,” to returning. … LHP Raul Valdes was designated for assignment and LHP Darin Downs was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray (4-1, 1.91 ERA) earned AL Pitcher of the Month honors for April. “Every time I take the mound, it’s fun,” Gray said. … The back end of the rotation has been limping along. “It certainly hasn’t been as productive as the front three,” manager Bob Melvin told the Contra Costa (Calif.) Times. “You could probably look at any team, and the back end is not going to be as good as the front end.”

Mariners: OF Logan Morrison, sidelined since April 16 with a strained right hamstring, is recovering more slowly than expected. Even manager Lloyd McClendon is surprised. “I have been. There’s no sense in arguing about it,” he said. “When I get him I get him. Until then I’ll just read his tweets.” … OF Abraham Almonte has been struggling and was benched by McClendon. “That’s why he’s sitting, because it’s not working. It’s that simple. He’s not playing because he’s not producing.”

Rangers: Slumping Elvis Andrus had a ground ball rate above 90 percent after 28 games, highest in the majors. … Manager Ron Washington said he likes having a player who can bunt and hit-and-run in the No. 2 hole. Washington said that he preferred to leave RF Alex Rios in the fifth spot because that’s where he’s most comfortable.