Erstad to Get MRI Exam on Sore Elbow

As far as first baseman Darin Erstad knows, he has never had an MRI exam.

“Couldn’t even tell you what it is,” he said.

He is scheduled to find out what it’s like today when he has an MRI exam and a nerve test performed on the strained ligament in his ailing left elbow.

Officially, the Angel medical staff is calling Erstad’s sore elbow an irritated ulna nerve. His status is day-to-day, and he expects to learn more after today’s examinations by Dr. Lewis Yocum.

“Honestly, I haven’t been thinking about it too much during the games,” said Erstad, who did not play Sunday. “When you throw to second base and you don’t have any feeling in two fingers, there’s definitely something wrong.”

Erstad said the pain first surfaced during spring training, but intensified within the past few weeks.

“I never had any trouble other than a sore arm,” he said. “Obviously, something like this is a little more serious. The last few days it’s been really bad. I can’t remember doing it on a certain play I did it on, but something’s definitely wrong.

“Maybe they’ll be able to tell more [today] after the swelling goes down and the nerves get settled.”

Surgery is likely to be required. The question facing Erstad is whether it’s best to have it now or wait until the end of the season.

“Who knows if I really want to find out what’s wrong?” Erstad said. “Something’s not right, though, and I’ve got to find out what’s wrong.”

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Medical center continued:

Reliever Rich DeLucia also will have an MRI exam on his sore right elbow.

Designated hitter Eddie Murray received a cortisone shot in his injured right wrist and should be available to play Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Catcher Jim Leyritz started despite suffering from a bruised sternum.

Reliever Mike James, who has a sore elbow, faced two batters in the eighth inning.

Second baseman Luis Alicea started despite having a nagging hamstring strain.

“We’ll just have to go with the players we’ve got,” Manager Terry Collins said. “If not, we’ll have to get the boss [General Manager Bill Bavasi] go out and get us some new ones.”

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Home-plate umpire Larry McCoy ejected designated hitter Tony Phillips for arguing a called third strike in the eighth inning. It was Phillips’ first ejection since returning to the Angels, but his fifth of the season. . . . Giant starter William VanLandingham has 23 walks in the past four starts. . . . Probables for the two-game series at Dodger Stadium: Chuck Finley (3-5) against the Dodgers’ Chan Ho Park (5-3) Tuesday and Dennis Springer (4-2) versus Hideo Nomo (6-6) Wednesday.