Angels send Jered Weaver to triple-A ... for the day
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Instead of pitching against the San Francisco Giants and ace Tim Lincecum at Scottsdale, Ariz., on Friday, the Angels will send Jered Weaver to Phoenix to start a triple-A game against a team of Oakland Athletics minor leaguers, so they can better control the right-hander’s workload.
Manager Mike Scioscia wants Weaver, who is aligned to start the team’s April 5 season opener against Minnesota, to start at least six innings and throw 90-95 pitches, ‘and it might be tougher to do that in a National League game,’ Scioscia said. ‘It will be a good workout for him to get to where he needs to be.’
Mike Napoli will catch Weaver, and reliever Scot Shields, who is coming back from left-knee surgery that sidelined him for most of 2009, will also pitch in the triple-A game.
Most of the regulars will play against San Francisco, with Hideki Matsui scheduled to play five or six innings in left field, the second time the designated hitter will have played outfield this spring. Right fielder Bobby Abreu, who is experiencing a little tightness in his right forearm, has the day off.
The Angels’ lineup against San Francisco:
SS Erick Aybar
2B Howie Kendrick
CF Torii Hunter
LF Hideki Matsui
1B Kendry Morales
RF Juan Rivera
3B Brandon Wood
C Bobby Wilson
P Trevor Reckling
-- Mike DiGiovanna in Tempe, Ariz.
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