Matt Joyce/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Angels

The Angels had played 62 games before Sunday. Left-fielder Matt Joyce – acquired in an off-season trade that sent Kevin Jepsen to the Tampa Bay Rays – had played in 55 of them. But in 174 at-bats and 196 plate appearances, he was hitting .178 with four home runs and 17 RBIs. Manager Mike Scioscia’s lineup card Sunday for the Angels’ series finale against the Oakland A’s did not include Joyce’s name.

“He’s not going to play today,” Scioscia said. “But Matty needs to exhale, for sure. And I think he needs to find some things in his game that are … in the batters box right now, he’s just not in sync, not squaring the balls up.

“And he’s much better than he’s shown over these last, I mean, we’re going almost … it might be close to what, 180-200 plate appearances? He just has not found it.”

Efren Navarro, who also plays first, started in left field on Sunday. For more outfield coverage while Joyce finds himself, the Angels called up Daniel Robertson and optioned first baseman/designated hitter C.J. Cron to Triple-A Salt Lake City.

Scioscia said Joyce will get more opportunities to prove himself.