Angels’ Albert Pujols limited to DH duty indefinitely

The Angels will start Albert Pujols at designated hitter in Sunday’s nationally televised game against the Detroit Tigers, and Manager Mike Scioscia said there is no timetable for when Pujols might return to first base.

Pujols strained his groin during Friday’s game. He started at DH on Saturday.

“He’s going to get as much time as he needs,� Scioscia said. “If it’s going to get irritated by playing first base, we’ll keep him at DH.�

Pujols, 35, served as DH for the 10th time in the Angels’ 51 games. He played 34 games at DH in 2012, his first season with the Angels. He played 65 games at DH in 2013 and 43 games in 2014.

Pujols has homered in three consecutive games, entering play Sunday. He is batting .250 -- including five hits in his past 10 at-bats -- and is tied for eighth in the American League with 11 home runs.

With left-hander David Price starting for the Tigers, Scioscia dropped the left-handed Kole Calhoun to sixth in the lineup, the lowest Calhoun has batted this season. David Freese batted fourth and Chris Iannetta fifth, the highest Iannetta has batted this season.

“David Price is a special lefty,� Scioscia said. “We want to make sure Mike [Trout] and Albert get their pitches.�

Erick Aybar, who had missed the past two games because of hamstring tightness, returned to the lineup, at shortstop and leading off.

The Angels said first baseman Marc Krauss, designated for assignment last week, cleared waivers and was assigned to triple-A Salt Lake.