THE SIDELINES : Brett to Return, Initially as D.H.

First baseman George Brett could return to the Kansas City Royals lineup this weekend against the Angels, returning from a knee injury he sustained April 29, but he won’t be at first base for a while.

Manager John Wathan said he plans to have Brett work back into the lineup slowly as the designated hitter. “This is a perfect time for George to come back. It will give everybody a lift. His presence is so important,” Wathan said.

Brett, who was hitting .253 when he suffered a torn ligament of the right knee, was hitting the ball so hard in batting practice earlier this week in Seattle that “I was drooling,” Wathan said.

Brett’s return would come in an important home stand as the Royals play the two teams ahead of them in the American League West--the Angels starting tonight and Oakland beginning Monday night.