Angels’ LaTroy Hawkins is out four to six weeks, Scott Downs is day to day

MINNEAPOLIS -- There was bad news and some not-so-bad news for the bullpen Monday, a day after the team lost its two best relievers to injury within a three-pitch span of the ninth inning.

Set-up man LaTroy Hawkins, who has a 1.08 earned-run average in 10 appearances, will be out four to six weeks because of a broken pinky finger on his right (throwing) hand. He was injured when he fielded Omar Vizquel’s game-ending line drive in a 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Hawkins was put on the 15-day disabled list and the Angels called up sinker-ball specialist David Pauley from triple-A Salt Lake to take his place.

The short-term outlook was much better for closer Scott Downs, who was listed as day to day after suffering a bruised left knee when he ducked out of the way of J.P. Arencibia’s line drive up the middle.

An MRI test showed no major damage in the knee and Downs, who has not given up an earned run in 11 appearances, could be available to pitch by Wednesday or Friday. The veteran left-hander remained in Anaheim for medical tests Sunday evening and was en route to Minneapolis on Monday.

With Downs and Hawkins out, Manager Mike Scioscia said he would use as closers right-handers Ernesto Frieri, who was acquired from San Diego on Thursday, and Jordan Walden, who lost his closing job April 27.

Right-hander David Carpenter, who has a 3.38 ERA in seven games since being promoted from Salt Lake in mid-April, will also assume a more prominent short-relief role.

The Angels began Monday with an American League-worst 4.68 bullpen ERA.

More on David Pauley

Pauley said he “found himself” at Salt Lake this season, but the 28-year-old right-hander did not reinvent himself. He still throws a sinking fastball, curve, changeup and slider, but he was a lot more effective and efficient while posting a 2-0 record and 2.29 ERA in seven games, three of them starts.

“I was getting ahead of hitters, getting ground balls and early-count outs,” Pauley said. “I had to get back to where I was.”

Pauley was 9-13 with a 3.35 ERA in 58 games, 15 of them starts, for the Seattle Mariners in 2010 and 2011 before being traded along with right-hander Doug Fister to Detroit on July 30.

Pauley was 0-2 with a 5.95 ERA in 14 games with the Tigers and was left off the team’s postseason roster. He got off to such a poor start this spring that he was released March 12. Eleven days later, Pauley signed a minor league deal with the Angels.

“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster, but it’s good to be back in the big leagues,” Pauley said. “I was throwing the ball well in Salt Lake, and it’s nice to get noticed.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com