Guillen, Molina Are Doubtful for Opener

The Angels probably will open the season Tuesday against Seattle without left fielder Jose Guillen and catcher Bengie Molina in the lineup. Both are scheduled to work out today at Safeco Field and remain possibilities, but Manager Mike Scioscia said he would have to see significant progress from each player to put them in the lineup.

Guillen is recovering from a deep bone bruise in his left wrist that he suffered Friday when he was hit by a pitch. Molina is still bothered by a strained left hamstring.

Chone Figgins replaced Guillen in left field Sunday, the third outfielder the Angels have used in three games at the position since Guillen was injured. Scioscia said he would not hesitate to use Tim Salmon as a replacement for an extended period if necessary, although Salmon is expected to be the team’s primary designated hitter.

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Darren Dreifort is a reluctant reliever, but he might well be the key to the Dodger bullpen at the start of the season. Of the primary setup men for closer Eric Gagne last season, Paul Quantrill is with the New York Yankees, Paul Shuey is on the disabled list and Guillermo Mota pitched four innings in an injury-interrupted spring, giving up 10 runs and 11 hits.

Dreifort has not pitched regularly in relief since 1997, but Manager Jim Tracy said he would not hesitate to use him on consecutive days, in the middle of an inning or with the game on the line.

“We’re treating Darren Dreifort as a relief pitcher,” Tracy said. “We’re not treating him as if he’s a piece of glass on a shelf.”

The starting rotation is no sure thing either, at least based on recent results. After the Angels roughed up Kazuhisa Ishii for eight runs in three innings Sunday, Odalis Perez is the only Dodger starter who finished spring training with an earned-run average below 6.99.

“Those are all veteran guys. To some degree, they’ve been getting themselves ready,” General Manager Paul DePodesta said. “I’m not terribly worried about it. At this point, there’s not a whole lot I can do about it.”

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Darin Erstad said he felt at ease as he prepared to open his first season since 1998 as the Angels’ regular first baseman.

“There are still a few things that are not perfect, but I’m happy with how spring went,” said Erstad, who is making the switch from center field to first base for the second time in eight years.

The two-time Gold Glove award-winning outfielder said the most difficult aspect of the transition had been throwing to second base and turning double plays. He has made only two errors this spring and said his latest position shift had been easier than the first one.

“The last time I played first, in 1997, I never could say I felt comfortable that whole year,” he said. “The first part of ‘98, I felt like it clicked. I really felt like I got the hang of it. It felt right.

“I’m guessing it won’t take that long this time, being that I’ve already done it. I can already see that I’m closer than I was when I first started.”

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The Dodgers set their final roster by optioning second baseman Joe Thurston to triple-A Las Vegas, designating outfielder Wilkin Ruan for assignment and putting pitcher Brian Falkenborg on the disabled list because of an injured right knee. As expected, they purchased the contracts of pitcher Jose Lima and infielders Jose Hernandez and Olmedo Saenz.

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Angel second baseman Brian Specht received the Fred Haney Award as the top rookie performer of the spring after hitting .349 with seven runs batted in. Scioscia said he had been pleased with Specht’s transition from shortstop, the position he played until this year. Specht, 23, will open the season at triple-A Salt Lake as the everyday second baseman.... John Lackey will throw 90 pitches tonight during an intrasquad game with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in preparation for his season debut Saturday against the Texas Rangers.