Rotation remains a work in progress

After scoring 34 runs in a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers and momentarily quelling talk of an offensive outage, the team can refocus its attention on the crisis of the moment: the fifth spot in the pitching rotation.

It used to be that the pitching rotation was the deepest part of the team, but with Bartolo Colon on the disabled list with elbow problems and Ervin Santana in the minors because of poor performance, the Angels are short on arms.

Dustin Moseley came out of the bullpen and filled the spot Sunday, but after giving up four runs and five hits with two wild pitches and a balk in 4 2/3 innings during a 13-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers, he probably isn’t a long-term solution.

The spot will come up again Friday at Oakland.

“Nothing says that Dustin isn’t going to stay in our rotation and nothing says that Ervin isn’t going to be back up here to pitch,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Nothing is set in stone. We’ll adjust as our rotation evolves.”

Kelvim Escobar could have pitched Sunday on regular rest because the Angels had a day off Thursday, but Scioscia said he wanted to give Escobar and John Lackey, who follows Escobar in the rotation, that extra day.

The fact that the team begins a three-game series tonight against second-place Seattle wasn’t a factor in the decision, Scioscia said.

“I think it’s too early to focus on one team or another at this point in the season,” Scioscia said. “It might come to that point later in the season, in September you might juggle some stuff, but right now, I would think we’d want to take advantage of giving those guys an extra day rather than set up some matchups.”

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Despite the recent offensive outburst by the team, Vladimir Guerrero remains mired in the longest power outage of his career. Not counting his 17-home run performance in winning the All Star game Home Run Derby, he hasn’t hit a home run since June 23, a span of 26 games.

His previous career drought was 23 games long in 1997. Still, he is batting .314 during his current stretch.

“I think it’s obvious that he hasn’t been getting as many pitches as I think at times he’s gotten before,” Scioscia said. “During this stretch he’s just missed six or seven balls -- just missed them by a hair.”

Scioscia said he hasn’t seen any swing changes that might be responsible.

“I don’t think this drought is causing him to force anything or getting him out of his rhythm,” he said. “He’s still been productive. Our whole offense as a whole has kind of been stalled for the last three weeks and it’s affected some of his opportunities.”

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Six days after being called up from triple-A Salt Lake City, Marc Gwyn made his major league debut Sunday, pitching a scoreless ninth while giving up a one-out double to Brandon Inge.

“I was beginning to wonder when I was going to throw,” said Gwyn, called up Tuesday when Colon was placed on the disabled list. “I was getting a little antsy.”

He said the nerves hit when he finally got the nod.

“It was exciting, a little nerve-racking and surreal,” he said. “I don’t know what I expected it to be, to tell you the truth. I was just fortunate to be able to get the job done.”

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Infielder Brandon Wood was optioned to Salt Lake City after the game. Wood, one of the Angels’ top prospects, has batted only 10 times in four games since his recall July 15.

He’ll be replaced on the roster by Matt Brown, who is batting .272 with 16 home runs for Salt Lake City. He will join the team today in Seattle.

peter.yoon@latimes.com

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Lumber work

The Angels ran roughshod over Detroit on the weekend, outscoring the Tigers, 34-13. A look at some of the Angels’ numbers:

* Runs 34

* Hits 39

* Home runs 2

* Doubles 11

* Batting average .386 (39-101)