Escobar shut down again with shoulder trouble

Amid the flurry of injuries to hit the Angels this spring came some more disturbing news today.

A week into a throwing program, the second phase of his rehabilitation from a sore shoulder, Kelvim Escobar has been shut down because of discomfort, a setback that will probably push the right-hander’s return back to June.

Although Manager Mike Scioscia downplayed the injury, there has to be some concern among the Angels that Escobar, who spent two months strengthening the shoulder before even picking up a ball, will be susceptible to similar setbacks throughout the season.

“When you’re activating your arm, sometimes you have little glitches here and there,” Scioscia said. “He started to throw, felt a little discomfort, and now he’s trying to get some of the inflammation back out of there. It’s nothing unusual in a rehab scenario to have to take a step back.”

Escobar, who went 18-7 with a 3.40 earned-run average last season, had barely taken a step forward, though. He only played catch at 45 feet a few times before hurting his shoulder again.

The Angels were hoping Escobar would be able to return in early May, but Scioscia acknowledged that this setback could change the window for his return.

“It’s still baby steps,” Scioscia said, “so it’s tough to evaluate when he’ll be able to start pushing things.”

The Angels are already opening the season without ace John Lackey, who will be out until at least mid-May because of a triceps strain, and Scioscia confirmed today that setup man Scot Shields (inflamed forearm) would open on the disabled list.

An MRI test on Shields’ arm revealed no abnormalities, but Scioscia said the right-hander would remain in Arizona for extended spring training to pitch in minor league games when the Angels break camp Thursday.

Outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. remains questionable for the opener because of a sprained right ankle, an injury he suffered while pulling up before third base Monday.

“We’ll just have to see; only time will tell,” Matthews said, when asked whether he would be ready to play Monday at Minnesota. “It depends on how I respond to treatment. It’s sore, but I’ll have to play through it.”

Third baseman Chone Figgins also sat out today’s exhibition game against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of some slight cramping in the muscles between his fingers on his left hand.

Figgins worked out in Tempe this morning and then returned to Southern California along with several other regulars in advance of Thursday night’s exhibition game against the Dodgers in Angel Stadium.

Scioscia said Figgins “could have played today, but we’ll give him a day, and he’ll be ready to go Thursday.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com