Trout stays in Anaheim because of injured groin

CHICAGO -- The winds at Wrigley Field were howling out to center field before Friday's game between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels, but the game's best player wasn't there to take advantage of them.

Mike Trout, the Angels' two-time American League MVP, didn't travel to Chicago with his club on Thursday and instead remained in Anaheim, California, because of a right groin injury suffered during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this week.

The Angels announced that Trout will be re-evaluated Sunday after imaging done Friday showed reduced swelling. Trout has also told the team his injury is improving, the Angels said.

While the cold and windy conditions in Chicago wouldn't have helped the injury, Angels manager Brad Ausmus said that wasn't a factor in the decision to leave Trout behind.

Trout was removed from the Angels' game before the fourth inning on Tuesday after experiencing discomfort. The game's highest-paid player, who signed a record 12-year, $430 million contract extension during spring training, is off to a characteristically strong start. He is hitting .406 with five homers and 12 RBIs in 12 games.

Trout last played at Wrigley Field on Aug. 10, 2016. He has played four career games there, hitting .384 with no homers and one RBI. The venerable ballpark is one of just eight current big league venues at which Trout has not homered.

The Angels lost 5-1 to the Cubs on Friday.