Dan Haren is good to go for Sunday; Ervin Santana to be skipped

ARLINGTON, Texas—Dan Haren said he felt good after his bullpen workout Thursday, and the right-hander, who did not pitch Wednesday because of soreness in the right side of his back, will be inserted into the rotation for Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox.

“I’ve made a lot of progress the last five days,” Haren said. “I didn’t think me pitching in the near future was going to happen when I woke up the day after I last pitched.”

Haren, who went on the disabled list for the first time in his career because of lower-back stiffness on July 5, pitched well in victories over Texas on July 22 and Tampa Bay last Friday night, but he tweaked his side against the Rays.

Zack Greinke and struggling right-hander Ervin Santana are scheduled to pitch the first two games against the White Sox. If Haren goes Sunday, Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and Greinke would pitch next week in Oakland.

With an off day next Thursday, Manager Mike Scioscia said “there is definitely going to be a probability” that Santana will be skipped in the rotation and moved temporarily to a bullpen that has been heavily taxed this week in Texas.

To bolster the bullpen Thursday, the Angels sent starter Garrett Richards back to Salt Lake and recalled reliever David Carpenter.
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