Speier glad to be back in bullpen

The Angels’ bullpen will receive a huge boost tonight when right-hander Justin Speier, sidelined since May 1 because of an intestinal infection, is activated from the disabled list.

Speier, who threw in the bullpen during Thursday’s workout, has regained the 12 pounds he lost during his illness, when he suffered from fatigue, nausea, lack of appetite and abnormal sleep patterns, and said he feels “strong, ready to go.”

That wasn’t the case in early June, when Speier, who had a 1.69 earned-run average in 15 April appearances after signing a four-year, $18-million deal last winter, had to abort a minor league rehabilitation assignment and return to his home in Arizona to recuperate.

“The first time I came back, I felt like I rushed it a bit,” Speier said. “But this time, I threw three times in Arizona and five times at [Class-A] Rancho Cucamonga. I feel like I have a solid foundation. It’s been a long road, but thank God I’m back with the team now.”

Speier is still on medication but said it hasn’t affected his performance. His stuff, he said, is good, and he doesn’t feel like he will have to pace himself in any way. Speier’s return gives the Angels a formidable one-two-three bullpen punch with closer Francisco Rodriguez and Scot Shields and should ease the burden on Shields.

“It was very frustrating being on the DL for so long,” Speier said. “Every time I saw Shields pitch two or three innings, he was picking up my slack. But [Dustin] Moseley, [Chris] Bootcheck and [Darren] Oliver stepped up and did a good job. I’ll just try to fill my role and help the team as much as I can.”

To make room for Speier, the Angels are expected to either option Chris Resop to triple A or put him on the DL.

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Manager Mike Scioscia changed the rotation for the series against Texas, moving John Lackey from Sunday to Saturday night after the right-hander did not pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star game. Lackey spent the game in the dugout, never going to the bullpen to warm up.

American League Manager Jim Leyland “didn’t say anything until after the game, when he apologized for not getting me in there,” Lackey said. “It was cool to hang out with the guys and meet some of the guys you compete against, see what they’re like off the field. But it would have been better if I got to play. It’s a little disappointing.”

Lackey wasn’t too thrilled about his first All-Star experience, but catcher Mike Napoli was. Lackey signed his AL All-Star jersey and gave it to Napoli, who said he would “hang it in my sports room at home.”

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Napoli thought he suffered a high ankle sprain in his game-ending home-plate collision with Baltimore’s Melvin Mora on July 1, an injury Scioscia thought could have sidelined the catcher for six to eight weeks. But the injury wasn’t that severe, and Napoli, who did agility drills Wednesday and ran and hit off a tee Thursday, is confident he’ll be activated Tuesday. ... Outfielder Reggie Willits, slowed by a knee injury last week, benefited from the four-day All-Star break. “I feel like I was a step slower than usual,” Willits said.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com