Angels 3B David Freese leaves after getting hit by pitch

As expected, Freese will hit the DL with a fractured right index finger, which he sustained Wednesday night against the Twins.

Freese took first base after getting hit, but eventually left the game after consulting with manager Mike Scioscia.

X-rays showed a non-displaced fracture on the tip of his index finger, which was placed in a splint.

While there is no definitive timetable for Freese’s return just yet, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times expects the third baseman “to be out for a while”.

The 2011 World Series MVP broke his right middle finger last season when he was hit by a pitch.

“You want to be in the lineup”, Freese said. “I was telling the guys earlier, I’ll be a good cheerleader and come to the yard ready to go with a big smile and root on the boys”. 241 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs.

Robertson injured his shoulder crashing into the wall to catch Trevor Plouffe’s fourth-inning drive and was replaced in the seventh by Mike Trout, who began the game at designated hitter.

Although the Angels do have a third basemen in their system in 25-year-old Kyle Kubitza, who is hitting.276/.346/.446 in Triple-A this season, Kubitza’s first trip to the Majors did not go particularly well.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are the hottest team in baseball right now, having won seven straight games to build a two game lead over the Houston Astros in the American League West.