ANAHEIM — Mike Trout has already lost once to Alex Bregman.

In fantasy football.

Trout revealed on Wednesday that he’s in a league with the Houston Astros third baseman. Last week their teams matched up, and Bregman’s won.

“Barely,” Trout pointed out.

Obviously, the more intriguing matchup between Trout and Bregman will be decided at the end of the regular season in a few days, when 30 baseball writers cast their ballots for the American League MVP. The winner will be announced on Nov. 14.

Trout unsurprisingly steered clear of campaigning for himself or against Bregman when questioned at his end-of-season press conference on Wednesday.

“He’s having an unbelievable year,” Trout said of Bregman. “I feel like this is my best year. Obviously, it (stinks) not playing the last few weeks. I follow Breg all the time. I see what he’s doing. Like I said, I’m happy for him. He’s having a great year.”

Foot surgery ended Trout’s season after just 134 games, while Bregman was set to play his 152nd on Wednesday night. Trout finished with 45 homers, a .291 average, .438 on-base percentage and .645 slugging percentage. Bregman has hit 40 homers, with a slash line of .295/.419/.590.

FanGraphs gives Trout a WAR edge of 8.6 to 7.9. Baseball-Reference has it closer, at 8.3 to 8.0 in Trout’s favor.

Although Trout has the statistical edge, Bregman is certainly going to get some support because he played the entire season, and also helped the Astros by moving to shortstop when Carlos Correa was hurt.

Some voters also might give Bregman credit for the Astros being a better team than the Angels, although that has become much less a part of the equation in recent years. Trout won the MVP in 2016 when the Angels finished fourth in the AL West.

Trout wouldn’t compare himself to Bregman, but he did say once again that he felt this was his best season.

“Offensively, in the box, this is the best I’ve felt,” said Trout, 28. “Just squaring up baseballs, making adjustments quickly, and barreling up a lot more balls.”

Trout couldn’t explain precisely what has improved, though, although he did give some credit to the Angels’ hitting coaches, Jeremy Reed, Shawn Wooten and Paul Sorrento.

“I just think, over time, it’s great communication with my hitting coaches and knowing how my body feels,” Trout said. “You can ask them. When I’m in the cage, when my swing feels right I’m usually taking about 10 swings. When I’m not, I’m usually grinding at it for a while. They know when I’m feeling good, and I think that’s the biggest thing, having a couple guys to lock you in.”

Trout managed to have his best season amid the trying circumstances of losing one of his best friends, when Tyler Skaggs died on July 1.

“It was tough,” Trout said. “For me, emotionally, I was drained. It was a tough few weeks there, a tough couple days after it happened. I think the team did great. The second day, when we came back and played, it was one of my toughest games I’ve ever played. It was just an emotional grind. It definitely weighs on you for sure.”

Trout also played the final month with pain in his right foot from the Morton’s neuroma, which finally necessitated the surgery. Trout said Wednesday that he already feels better, and expects to have a normal, full winter of workouts starting around Nov. 1.

The raft of injuries and disappointing performances, along with the Skaggs tragedy, doomed the Angels to their fourth consecutive losing season, once again leaving the game’s best player out of the playoffs.

Six months ago Trout signed a 12-year, $426.5-million contract to stay with the Angels. In explaining why he would forgo the chance to become a free agent, Trout said he believed the Angels were on the right track to becoming winners.

After a disappointing season, he said he is still confident they can do it.

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Why Angels pitching struggled and what needs to be done Trout said having Shohei Ohtani back healthy and getting a full year out of Justin Upton will help, and he also expressed confidence in General Manager Billy Eppler.

“I’m sure Billy and the front office are going to do a good job to bring new guys in and go from there,” Trout said.

ALSO

Kean Wong, who was claimed on waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, reported to the Angels on Wednesday and said he’s “excited” to go. Wong is a left-handed hitting infielder. Manager Brad Ausmus said he’s not sure how Wong fits, but he plays multiple positions in the infield and outfield, and he can be optioned next season. …

Infielder Tommy La Stella’s return to action could come as soon as Friday, Ausmus said. Although La Stella could be cleared to play on Thursday, the Astros are starting left-hander Wade Miley, and Ausmus prefers that La Stella’s first game back from the injured list be against a right-hander. La Stella has missed nearly three months with a broken leg.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Jaime Barría, 4-10, 6.43 ERA) vs. Astros (LHP Wade Miley, 14-6, 3.91 ERA), Thursday, 7:07 p.m., Fox Sports West, 830 AM