Aybar, Izturis create options

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- With nine days to go before the season opener, neither Erick Aybar nor Maicer Izturis has emerged as a clear-cut favorite for the shortstop job.

And the Angels, who beat the Texas Rangers, 4-1, in an exhibition game Friday night, couldn’t be happier.

Both have looked so sharp this spring that the question is no longer how the team will replace Gold Glove veteran Orlando Cabrera, but how Manager Mike Scioscia will pick a starter between these two.

“They’re playing great baseball right now,” Scioscia said. “Nothing has happened that really gives us a better look if one guy is playing over another, and that’s a great position to be in.

“You don’t want to have this thing solved because one guy isn’t playing well or a guy at another position gets hurt,” forcing you to move Aybar or Izturis to second or third.

Whatever yips Aybar had in the Dominican winter league, where he committed 17 errors in 58 games, they have not followed him to Arizona.

Aybar, 24, has displayed excellent range, quick feet, soft hands and a strong arm, and the better he plays, the more confident and comfortable he seems.

Wednesday against Oakland, Aybar went behind the second-base bag to field Mike Sweeney’s fourth-inning grounder, spun around and threw to first for the out.

In the fifth, he dived to his left to smother Donnie Murphy’s grounder and flipped to second to start a double play. In the sixth, he back-handed Sweeney’s shot to the hole and fired a laser to first.

As an added bonus, the switch-hitter has shown some pop at the plate with three home runs, tying him with Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter for the team lead.

Izturis, 27, has been less flashy but just as consistent, showing good range, a good arm and an ability to turn the double play.

A valuable utility player for four seasons but an everyday shortstop in the minor leagues, Izturis, also a switch-hitter, is considered the better offensive player, and he’s batting .394 with four doubles and a triple this spring.

His decision to bypass winter ball in Venezuela to strengthen his legs appears to have paid off -- Izturis, who spent 13 weeks on the disabled list because of hamstring problems in 2006 and 2007, hasn’t had any injuries this spring.

Neither Aybar nor Izturis has made an error in exhibition play.

“They’ve been unbelievable this spring,” second baseman Howie Kendrick said. “I’ve played with both, and they’re both great defensive players, and they’re swinging the bat well.”

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Command performance

Jered Weaver all but wrapped up the opening-day assignment with another superb start Friday, giving up one run and seven hits, striking out six and walking one in 6 1/3 innings. He threw 92 pitches.

The right-hander, who sat out last spring because of biceps tendinitis, is 5-0 with a 1.33 earned-run average in five spring starts, giving up three runs and 12 hits in 20 1/3 innings, striking out 14 and walking three.

“This is the way I pitch when I’m healthy, the way I’m supposed to feel,” said Weaver, who struck out Josh Hamilton on a changeup and Hank Blalock on a fastball with the bases loaded to end the third. “Last year was a glitch.”

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Injury updates

Guerrero’s irritated right knee improved Friday, but the slugger is not expected to play again until Sunday. . . . Gary Matthews Jr., who suffered a bruised left gluteus sliding home Thursday, is “fine,” Scioscia said, and the outfielder is expected to play today.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

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