BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Anderson Put on Disabled List

Pitcher Brian Anderson threw Tuesday for the first time since straining his left biceps Friday, and he experienced so much discomfort the Angels put him on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday.

“I didn’t want to go on the DL, but at least I don’t have to worry about rushing to get back,” Anderson said. “They’re being real cautious.”

The Angels recalled right-handed reliever Ken Edenfield from triple-A Vancouver to replace Anderson on the roster. Manager Marcel Lachemann will insert reliever Russ Springer into Anderson’s spot in the rotation beginning Thursday against the Rangers.

Springer has struggled in five relief appearances, allowing three home runs and seven earned runs in four innings (15.75 earned-run average), but Lachemann thinks Springer, a right-hander, might be more comfortable in a starting role.

“That’s one of the thoughts we considered,” Lachemann said. “You come in from the bullpen and every mistake is magnified, there’s no margin for error. But if you start and give up two or three runs, then pitch six more (scoreless) innings, everyone says you pitched great. You give up two or three in relief and it’s not a good outing.”

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Rosters must be trimmed from 28 to 25 by Monday, and unless outfielder Garret Anderson starts getting more at-bats, he probably will be one of those optioned to triple-A Vancouver.

Anderson, who has dominated triple-A pitching for two years, says he has learned more in two weeks on a major league bench than he would have playing in Vancouver. Through Sunday he had started only once, appeared in four games and had no hits in five at-bats.

“I would rather stay and learn more,” said Anderson, 22. “I think that would be more beneficial than going back to Vancouver and playing.”

Lachemann wants Anderson to get more swings, however.

“He needs to get 250 at-bats here to make it a reasonable season,” Lachemann said. “If he’s not going to get many at-bats, he should (go to Vancouver) and play every day.”

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The Angels Tuesday claimed left-handed pitcher Ben VanRyn from waivers and optioned him to triple-A Vancouver, making room for him by designating left-hander Mark Holzemer for assignment. VanRyn, a former Dodger minor leaguer, was 0-1 with a 9.24 ERA at double-A Chattanooga (Reds) in 1994.