Albert Pujols

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Albert Pujols could be used at third base during interleague play.

The Angels are looking to get Pujols, Kendrys Morales, and Mark Trumbo in the same lineup without a designated hitter, and haven’t ruled out the possibility of trying Pujols at third base, though nothing is imminent. Pujols appeared at third base in seven games with the Cardinals in 2011.

Albert Pujols homered in a second straight game to give the Angels their only run against the White Sox.

Pujols admired this one, a blast to dead center off left-hander Chris Sale. We’d write that he should act like he’s done it before, but then it had been a while since he hit one that impressive.

Albert Pujols hit his second home in Wednesday’s 7-2 win over the White Sox.

With his three-run blast off of Gavin Floyd in the third inning, Pujols joined such luminaries as Clint Barmes and Jeff Mathis in the two home run club. It was Pujols’ only hit in four trips to the plate, but he’s now four for his past eight with five RBI. He’s also hit in five consecutive games. Almost certainly above the Mendoza Line to stay (we hope), you can start planning on the Angels’ $250 million man to better resemble the fantasy beast we’ve come to know and love in the coming weeks.

The Angels have fired hitting coach Mickey Hatcher.

The Halos have been a major disappointment on offense, so we can’t blame them for shaking things up. They’ve been shut out eight times already this season and entered Tuesday’s game ranking 13th in the AL in runs scored. Triple-A Salt Lake hitting coach Jim Eppard will take over as the new hitting coach in Anaheim.

Albert Pujols hit his first home run of the season in Sunday’s win over the Blue Jays.

Albert Pujols is not in the Angels’ starting lineup on Saturday for the first time this season.

Pujols was told by manager Mike Scioscia to not even pick up a bat, so he didn’t participate in pregame batting practice before the game and is doubtful to pinch hit. The well-compensated first baseman is engrossed in the worst slump of his career, hitting just .194 with no homers and five RBI through 114 plate appearances.

Albert Pujols went 0-for-4 on Friday and is now 1-for-16 during May.

He’s in a 5-for-54 slump overall. It’d still be a terrible idea for Pujols owners to panic and sell low, but this sure has been one brutal start for the best hitter of the aughts.

Albert Pujols went 0-for-4 with an RBI in Tuesday’s 4-0 victory over the Twins.

Incidentally, The Angels have scored four or fewer runs in nine straight contests. As for Pujols, his OPS (.547) drops to its lowest point since two games into the season. Meanwhile, his K/BB ratio stands at 14/6; the last time he produced more strikeouts than walks was his rookie season in 2001.

Albert Pujols went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Sunday’s shutout loss to the Indians.

Since ending an 0-for-21 skid on Thursday, Pujols is just 2-for-12 with a pair of singles. Meanwhile, his season-beginning homer-less streak is now at 22 games, putting the Angels’ $250 million man in danger of the first bomb-free month of his 12-year career (not counting March and October, of course). “It’s still early,” of course, but a .216/.266/.295 month for the game’s best player is troubling after he set career lows in average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage last season.