ANAHEIM -- Lefty José Suarez's short start on Monday not only helped hand the Angels a 6-4 loss to the Nationals in the series opener at Angel Stadium, but it also had a trickle-down effect, as it changed who will be the club’s starter in Wednesday’s series finale.

Suarez struggled, allowing four runs on 10 hits and a walk over four innings, and the Angels had to use long reliever Tucker Davidson, who was tentatively scheduled to start in the finale. Davidson came in with the game tied and gave up two runs over three innings, which means the Angels will now turn to right-hander Griffin Canning to be activated from the injured list to start against Washington on Wednesday. The Angels will have to make a roster move to reinstate Canning, and the only relievers with Minor League options are Andrew Wantz and Jimmy Herget. Wantz is the most likely to be optioned.

The Angels were again hurt by several softly hit balls dropping in for hits, but they also made several ill-timed miscues that played a role in the defeat. Of the 10 hardest-hit balls of the night, nine were hit by Angels batters, but they didn’t get a hit after the third inning. Washington, on the other hand, pounded out 14 hits, 12 of them singles.

“It was two days of us hitting the ball hard and not giving up a lot of hard contact, but we had some things defensively we didn't do right that cost us a couple of runs and that's the difference in the game,” manager Phil Nevin said. “I thought Tucker came in and did a heck of a job. He shouldn't have given up a run.”

With several relievers unavailable on Monday, Suarez had to pitch deep into the game in order to give Davidson a chance to take the ball on Wednesday, which would be his first start after throwing four scoreless innings in long relief on April 1. But Suarez turned in a second straight clunker, as he’s posted a 10.80 ERA in 8 1/3 innings through his first two starts this season.

Nevin said Suarez’s command has been his biggest issue, as he believes the lefty's stuff has been fine.

“Really, it’s just his location,” Nevin said “When he locates better, his stuff is better. He's shown some flashes of the same stuff from last year. I thought his fastball was fine today, it was just the secondary stuff. His last couple outings, it just hasn't quite been there."

Nevin deflected a question about his level of concern about Suarez, but it’s likely too early for Suarez’s spot in the rotation to be in question, especially because he’s out of Minor League options. But if his struggles continue, he could be sent to the bullpen. In that scenario, Canning could be the club’s fifth starter, and Davidson would serve as the sixth starter and occasional long reliever.

Canning is currently on the injured list with a left groin strain, but fared well in his rehab start with Single-A Inland Empire, striking out 10 batters in five innings. He also had a strong showing in Spring Training with his fastball sitting in the mid-90s. Canning still has plenty to prove, as he missed all of his last season with a back injury and hasn’t pitched in a big league game since July 2, 2021.

On Monday, Suarez was staked to an early 4-1 lead against the rebuilding Nationals, but gave up three runs in the fourth. He walked a batter with a pitch timer violation on a 3-2 count and wasn’t helped by a two-out error from Luis Rengifo, and was unable to limit the damage at that point. Suarez blamed well-placed hits for his rough outing.

“It was a lot of weak contact,” Suarez said through an interpreter. “I can’t control it. But I’m upset. It’s just baseball.”

Davidson also was also hurt by the defense, as the Angels were sloppy, especially in the infield. First baseman Brandon Drury was involved in two of those plays that led to runs scoring against Davidson.

In the fifth inning with runners at first and third with one out, Drury attempted to start a 3-6-3 double play on a grounder hit to first by speedy C.J. Abrams instead of throwing home to get the lead runner. It led to the go-ahead run scoring, and both Drury and Nevin said after the game that Drury should’ve thrown home.

In the seventh, the Angels tried to turn a 5-4-3 double play with runners at first and second with one out, but Drury never looked home after receiving the throw at first base. It allowed Dominic Smith to score all the way from second base to give Washington an insurance run.

“It was just a sloppy game overall,” said Drury, who acknowledged both mistakes. “We’ve got to be better than that.”