Angels Might Be Without Langston for Six Weeks

Starter Mark Langston, the ace of the Angels’ pitching staff, is tentatively scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday on his left elbow. The early prognosis is that he will be sidelined four to six weeks.

Langston, a four-time All-Star, was found to have bone chips and bone spurs in the elbow. He will be examined Monday by Dr. Lewis Yocum to determine the severity of the injury.

Langston was put on the 15-day disabled list for the first time since 1985. He will be replaced in the rotation by left-hander Brian Anderson, who was recalled from triple-A Vancouver and will start today against the Milwaukee Brewers. Anderson, 21, has appeared in only eight professional games, including one start in the big leagues.

“Just because a guy goes out in April, you don’t say we’re done,” Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said. “It’s obvious we’re going to miss him, but I don’t think this is the time to give up the ship.

“We have people who can shoulder the load, and now they’ll have to shoulder it more.”

This will be the first time in Langston’s career that he faces the prospect of surgery. He has been on the disabled list only once before and is the only active major league player who has pitched at least 223 innings each of the last eight seasons.

“I’m not scared, and I’m not discouraged,” Langston said, “I just feel very disappointed because I wanted to go out there for the team. This just appeared out of nowhere.”

The Angels vow to survive the loss of Langston, but they still wonder how they can contend without him.

“We can say what we want, but you don’t just replace a Mark Langston,” starter Chuck Finley said.

The Angels are expected to pursue a trade, using triple-A first baseman J.T. Snow as enticement. Veteran left-hander Joe Magrane, who currently is at the Angels’ extended spring-training camp, could be ready to rejoin the club early next month.

Langston, who signed a three-year, $14-million contract in February, says his elbow did not bother him the entire spring. Nor did he feel any discomfort during his opening-day victory over Minnesota, yielding eight hits and two earned runs in 7 2/3 innings.

Langston felt a sharp pain when he bumped his elbow against a chair Tuesday night, but shrugged it off. He lifted weights Wednesday afternoon, but when he played catch in the outfield with Finley, his elbow lost its mobility. He underwent tests Thursday morning by orthopedic consultant Dr. Daniel Buss, who made the diagnosis and relayed his findings to Yocum.

“There was damage in there, but I don’t know how much was new and how much was old,” Buss said. “They’re aware of the problems.”

Langston tried to avoid the disabled list by pitching on the side Friday, and he felt little discomfort. But the elbow started to become inflamed, and Friday night he had no choice but to tell pitching coach Chuck Hernandez that he couldn’t pitch.

“I feel fortunate that I’ve had 11 years at this level and not had anything major happen,” Langston said. “I’m still hoping this is very minor.

“I’ll be back.”