Darren Oliver’s arm is stiff, so Matt Palmer will start

There is an explanation for what seems like a real head-scratcher of a move, the Angels’ decision to recall struggling triple-A right-hander Matt Palmer to start against the Tigers tonight instead of effective veteran long reliever Darren Oliver.

Oliver, who gave up one run and five hits in four innings of a spot start against Minnesota on Saturday, was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left triceps.

“We’re trying to nurse him back . . . and for him to try to throw another 60 pitches is not the right thing to do,” Manager Mike Scioscia said before the game. “He gave us four good innings, but that’s his limit. We don’t want to put him at risk because of how important he is to our bullpen.”

Palmer, 30, was 1-1 with an 11.74 earned-run average in two games at Salt Lake, giving up 10 runs and 13 hits in 7 2/3 innings. He is the only triple-A starter with big league experience, going 0-2 with an 8.53 ERA in three starts for San Francisco last season.

Jet set

Oliver and center fielder Torii Hunter spent Monday’s off day at their Texas homes, and both were booked on the same flight Tuesday from Dallas to Orange County that was scheduled to arrive in the early afternoon, giving both plenty of time to get to Angel Stadium for pregame workouts.

But when their flight was canceled and the airline could not guarantee them a seat on a later flight, the pair chartered an eight-passenger private jet -- at a cost of about $10,000 -- to fly them to Orange County. Oliver used his contacts to secure the plane, but Hunter, who makes $18 million a year, picked up the tab for Oliver, who makes $3.655 million.

The pair arrived in Orange County at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, but Hunter was in a foul mood.

“I was ticked off,” he said. “Our flight was canceled, and we had to get back, so we got a jet.”

It was probably money well-spent. Hunter said if he missed the game, he might have been fined as much as $100,000.

Slow go for Escobar

Kelvim Escobar admitted Wednesday that he “did too much too soon,” which probably led to his setback in his recovery from shoulder surgery. The right-hander was on track to return in late April; now he won’t return until June, at the earliest. He was moved from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list Wednesday.

Escobar’s fastball was clocked at 96 mph in his first minor league game in March. His arm was a little sore after his next game, but he still made a third start, in San Diego, on April 3. Escobar was shut down after that game because of an inflamed shoulder and didn’t resume playing catch until last weekend.

He has extended his long-toss program to 150 feet and could begin throwing off a mound this weekend, but after meeting with Scioscia and trainer Ned Bergert on Tuesday, Escobar will take this rehabilitation slow.

Short hops

Second baseman Howie Kendrick, mired in a two-for-24 slump that dropped his average from .296 on April 12 to .196, was benched for the second time in four games Wednesday. Kendrick has one walk and 12 strikeouts in 51 at-bats. . . . Lackey (forearm strain) and Santana (elbow ligament sprain) will begin rehabilitation assignments in extended-spring training games at Arizona. . . . The Angels’ April 9 game against Oakland, postponed after the death of Nick Adenhart, has been rescheduled for Aug. 27. A team Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Chuck Finley and Brian Downing will be held before the game.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com