Matthews wants to play the field

It beats not playing at all, but Gary Matthews Jr., relegated to designated hitter for the second game in a row Saturday after injuring his left knee Wednesday night in a first-base collision with Boston’s Kevin Youkilis, can’t wait to get back into center field.

“I don’t feel like a complete player when I’m the DH,” Matthews said. “You’ve got to find some way to keep your heart rate up, keep your sweat going. It’s odd. It’s like you’re removed from the game, and then, boom, you’re in the game. The sooner I get back on the field, the better.”

Matthews was injured in the fifth inning Wednesday after grounding to second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who ranged far to his right and made an off-balance throw that pulled Youkilis toward the foul line behind the bag and into Matthews’ path.

Matthews’ left knee hit Youkilis’ hip. Matthews also injured his left wrist, but the knee -- he was diagnosed with an inflamed patellar tendon -- is the bigger concern.

“I don’t want to injure myself any further,” said Matthews, who made only one start at DH this season before Friday. “We want to knock out [the swelling] now so it’s not a lingering issue that will affect the team.”

Running isn’t so much the problem for Matthews, who said he will consider an MRI test if the knee doesn’t improve in the next few days.

“Stopping is when I feel it the most,” said Matthews, who has been a difference-maker on defense this season. “But it doesn’t feel like there’s any structural damage. I don’t think it’s anything huge.”

Reggie Willits replaced Matthews in center field for the second straight game, thankful for the opportunity to play after having what he called “a near-death experience” on the 91 Freeway in Anaheim.

Matt Bennett, the Angels’ community relations manager, was driving Willits, infielder Maicer Izturis and bullpen catcher Steve Soliz back from a clinic in Chino Hills when a large metal object, kicked into the air by a truck in front of them, smashed into the windshield of Bennett’s Toyota Camry.

“If that thing came through the windshield, I thought we were goners,” Willits said. “My heart was racing. There was nothing we could do.”

Bennett said the debris left a “grapefruit-sized crack” in his windshield, which was ruined, but he was able to drive back to Angel Stadium without assistance.

“It was a little scary there for a second -- if that thing came through the windshield, it would have been pretty hairy,” Bennett said. “Luckily, no one was hurt.”

Second baseman Howie Kendrick, out since July 8 because of a fracture in his left index finger but cleared to resume full baseball activities Friday, will start a minor league rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga today.

Kendrick will then join triple-A Salt Lake on Monday, and if he regains his timing and his stroke quickly, Manager Mike Scioscia said there is a chance Kendrick will be activated Friday for the Angels’ day-night doubleheader in Boston.

Mike Napoli is eligible to come off the disabled list today, but after he ran full speed to test his strained right hamstring Friday and Saturday, the Angels determined he will need a few more days to recover. Scioscia said Napoli probably would be activated by the middle of this week.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com