Erstad Might Return Soon

First baseman Darin Erstad’s hamstring injury may only keep him out of the weekend series against the Detroit Tigers. Erstad, who is listed as day-to-day, strained his right hamstring running on his fifth-inning double against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Erstad had to be helped off the field, but by Friday Manager Terry Collins was feeling better about the situation.

“I talked with the trainers and they said Darin should be OK in three, four, five days,” Collins said. “He’s much better today. Although walking in from the parking lot is a lot different than trying to play center field.”

Erstad said he has never had problems with his hamstring before. But he felt a twinge as he was approaching first base Wednesday.

“I was just hitting my speed and it felt like something reached up and bit me,” he said. “I could barely walk the night it happened, but it seems a lot better today. But I haven’t really done much.”

Collins said Erstad’s will be reevaluated Sunday and Monday.

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Collins juggled his lineup with Erstad out, moving center fielder Jim Edmonds to first base and putting Orlando Palmeiro in center field. Palmeiro also was in Erstad’s leadoff spot.

Edmonds last started at first base on July 5, 1994, at Boston. He played 22 games at first base, starting 18, that year.

“The manager says to play first base, so that’s what I’m going to do,” said Edmonds, who did not make an error at first base in 1994.

The move was made more with the idea of getting Palmeiro in the lineup.

“The leadoff spot is the most important spot in the lineup and Orlando is our only leadoff hitter,” Collins said. “When Orlando has played center field in the past, I haven’t worried that we’re not as good in center field. There’s really no difference. Maybe Jim goes back on the ball better, but Orlando comes in on it better.”

And Edmonds’ ability to play first?

“When I got here, I was told that Jim Edmonds was the second best first baseman on this team,” Collins said.

Still, if Erstad is forced onto the disabled list, the Angels will likely call up first baseman Chris Pritchett from Vancouver.

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Pitchers Troy Percival and Mark Gubicza, both on the disabled list because of shoulder injuries, played catch for five minutes from 40 feet Wednesday. Neither reported any discomfort.

“They will throw for five minutes again [today] and 10 minutes on Sunday,” Collins said. “They are both so competitive that they want to continue [throwing]. So we have to hold them back.” . . . The Angels brought outfielder Mike Wolff to Anaheim on Friday as insurance after Erstad was injured. Wolff, who hit .393 in spring training and .294 in 17 games with Vancouver, will be activated in case of an emergency.

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TONIGHT’S GAME

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (0-0, 8.31 ERA) vs. TIGERS’ BRIAN MOEHLER (1-1, 3.38 ERA)

Anaheim Stadium, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West. Radio--KTZN (710).

* Update--Finley has struggled since returning from a broken facial bone April 15. He has walked eight batters and given up eight hits in 8 2/3 innings. Still, the Angels are 2-0 in his starts. “I hope I can keep going out there and keep then team close, until I get my [stuff] together,” Finley said. Moehler, a rookie, went a career-high seven innings against Oakland on April 20th for his first major league victory. One of the hits he gave up was a home run by Mark McGwire, which was estimated at 491 feet, making him only the fourth player to clear the roof at Tiger Stadium.