BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Abbott Nervous About Tonight’s Start

Jim Abbott, scheduled to start today for the first time since he pulled a rib-cage muscle July 11 at Detroit, acknowledged that he is jittery.

“It’s like starting all over again,” said Abbott, who had to leave that game after 3 2/3 innings. “I’ll be a little nervous. You’d like to say you’re on top of your game and ready to start, but I don’t know how sharp I’m going to be.”

Abbott, whose 2.96 earned-run average ranks sixth in the AL, hasn’t won a game since June 26. His last home victory was June 21 over Oakland.

“He threw real well the other day at Kansas City,” interim Manager John Wathan said. “He had good extension and follow-through.”

The Angels said Friday night that they will ask waivers on John Morris Monday to open a roster spot for Abbott, but it’s unlikely to involve the demotion of a pitcher. Abbott’s return and Wathan’s decision to shift Tim Fortugno to the bullpen increase the pitching staff to 11, the number Wathan had before Mark Eichhorn was traded to Toronto.

Wathan said he hoped Bryan Harvey would be ready to return early next week, but Harvey still has a ways to go in his recovery from elbow problems. “I’ve got to get into the strike zone more than I’ve been,” said Harvey, who is scheduled to throw again Sunday. “It’s very ugly right now.”

Von Hayes was scratched from Friday’s lineup because of a pulled rib-cage muscle, incurred during his pinch-hit appearance in Thursday’s game at Kansas City. Rob Ducey was inserted into the lineup in left field and Chad Curtis shifted from left field to right field. The start was Ducey’s first at Anaheim Stadium since being acquired from Toronto on July 30. . . . Catcher Greg Myers (sprained right wrist) said his hand was still sore Friday and probably would keep him from playing. . . . The recall of much-heralded Edmonton outfielder Tim Salmon probably will occur during the Angels’ next trip, because team executives feel Salmon would be under less pressure making his debut on the road than at home. . . . Catcher John Orton’s right shoulder hasn’t progressed as rapidly as the Angels had hoped, so he has remained in Mesa rather than reporting to Edmonton on rehabilitation assignment. . . . White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas extended his hitting streak to a personal-best 17 games with his first-inning single. He entered the game with a league-leading .448 on-base percentage.