Pitcher Might Be a Big Deal

Despite speculation surrounding a possible Mark McGwire deal, the Angels appear to be focusing more on a starting pitcher as the July 31 trading deadline approaches.

Angel scouts have been paying particularly close attention this month to Philadelphia right-hander Curt Schilling and Milwaukee right-hander Ben McDonald, along with Boston right-handers Tom Gordon and Aaron Sele.

Schilling, of course, is the jewel of this year’s summer pitching crop, a 30-year-old with an 11-8 record, 3.28 earned-run average, a National League-leading 176 strikeouts and a no-trade clause in his three-year, $15.5-million contract extension that kicks in starting next season.

But Schilling has said he would waive the clause to go to a contender, particularly Baltimore, Atlanta or Florida. The Braves and Cleveland Indians have showed the most interest, but the Angels apparently haven’t ruled themselves out.

The Phillies are looking for outfield and pitching help, and Schilling is probably the one player for whom the Angels would deem worth trading one of their top young outfielders, either Garret Anderson or Jim Edmonds.

An Angel scout watched Gordon and Sele pitch for Boston this week, and the Red Sox are also looking for an outfielder, but neither pitcher would fetch Anderson or Edmonds in a trade.

McDonald, however, has more value. He’s 8-7 with a 4.06 ERA, 110 strikeouts, and opponents are batting .237 against him. However, he came down with a sore shoulder after his last start and was examined by Angel physician Lewis Yocum this week.

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Tim Salmon had 30 home runs and 98 RBIs in 1996, but he couldn’t help but wonder how much bigger a season he would have had if he hit better than .257 with runners in scoring position.

He’s finding out this season. Salmon has been outstanding in the clutch, hitting .389 with runners in scoring position before Thursday. That’s almost 100 points higher than his average (.295) and is the main reason Salmon, who has 16 homers, has 67 RBIs.

“Too many of those situations slipped by last year and I was definitely aware of that going into this season,” said Salmon, who is also batting .429 (six for 14) with the bases loaded. “I wanted to improve on that, and I have--I’ve been more aggressive and in a better frame of mind in those situations.”

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Edmonds did not start Thursday night. No injuries, Manager Terry Collins simply felt Edmonds was due for a night off. . . . Eddie Murray, playing his first minor league game in more than 20 years, went four for four with a home run in a rehabilitation start for Class-A Lake Elsinore on Wednesday night.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

ON DECK

Opponent--Toronto Blue Jays, three games.

Site--Anaheim Stadium.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports West tonight and Saturday.

Radio--KTZN (710)

Records--Angels 52-42, Blue Jays 44-47.

Record vs. Blue Jays--4-2.

TONIGHT’S GAME

ANGELS’ ALLEN WATSON (8-5, 5.02 ERA) vs. BLUE JAYS’ WOODY WILLIAMS

(4-8, 4.49 ERA)

* Update--Are the Angels living a charmed existence, or what? For the third time this season they’ll play a three-game series against Toronto without facing Roger Clemens, who has a 25-7 career record and 2.37 earned-run average against them. In addition, Pat Hentgen, the 1996 Cy Young Award winner, is not scheduled to pitch this weekend, and No. 3 starter Juan Guzman, originally scheduled for Sunday, was scratched because he went on the 15-day disabled list Thursday. “No question,” Salmon said, “a lot of things are breaking our way.” Watson’s start marks the third time the Angels’ four-man rotation will have pitched on three days’ rest. “If there’s some fatigue,” Collins said, “now is the time we’ll see it.”

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Jason Dickson (10-4, 3.26) vs. Robert Person (3-6, 5.25).

* Sunday, 1 p.m.--Chuck Finley (7-6, 4.66) vs. Luis Andujar (0-4, 6.18).