BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : House Call Yields Negative Prognoses

Lewis Yocum, team physician, made a 2,600-mile house call Tuesday, traveling from Los Angeles to Boston to visit the infirmary that is the Angel clubhouse, and the prognoses weren’t all good.

Damion Easley, who hasn’t started the past three games because of a sprained right wrist, could return today, and the cut on backup catcher Andy Allanson’s left hand has almost healed.

But Scott Sanderson, who missed Tuesday night’s scheduled start, was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a herniated disc in his lower back and will return to Orange County today to begin a physical therapy program.

The Angels, who were carrying 12 pitchers, one more than usual, recalled outfielder Garret Anderson from triple-A Vancouver, and Manager Marcel Lachemann said right-hander Russ Springer, sent to Vancouver May 15, probably will be recalled to start Friday’s game at Baltimore. Springer is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA at Vancouver.

Sanderson, who hadn’t missed a start because of injury since back surgery in 1988, thinks he could return in another week or two. Anderson, 22, opened the season with the Angels but had only seven at-bats before being sent on May 15 to Vancouver, where he was batting .311 with 12 runs batted in.

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The Angels will begin serious negotiations with Jeff Moorad, the adviser for No. 1 pick Darin Erstad, today or Thursday, and indications are it will take no less than $1.5 million to sign the Nebraska outfielder.

The market has been set by at least three first-round signings: No. 2 Ben Davis received $1.3 million from San Diego, No. 10 Chad Hermanson received $1.15 million from Pittsburgh, and No. 18 Ryan Jaroncyk received $850,000 from the New York Mets.

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Tonight will mark the fifth time Angel left-hander Chuck Finley has faced Boston ace Roger Clemens, but Finley doesn’t attach any extra significance to such marquee matchups.

“I’ve been beaten by No. 5 starters, scratch starters, bullpen by committee,” said Finley, who is 1-2 with a 2.40 earned-run average against Clemens. “It all evens out, so I don’t pay attention to all that.”