Watson at Least Well-Armed

Allen Watson merely took a line drive off his heel Monday, so he is the Angel starting pitcher Friday.

At the moment.

“Allen doesn’t have any arm problems,” Manager Terry Collins said.

Such is the criterion these days for Collins, whose pitching staff has been beaten up in the last couple of weeks. Watson will pitch against the Detroit Tigers on three days’ rest. Chuck Finley, who was hit by a line drive below his left elbow last Friday, is scheduled to pitch Saturday.

Finley, who was to be Friday’s starter, threw in the bullpen Wednesday.

“Everything went good,” Finley said. “I was a little tight when I first started, but it was pretty good after that.”

The rotation could change, depending on reliever Mike James’ health. James left Monday’s game because of a partial tear of a tendon in his right forearm, and he will be reevaluated Friday.

“I thought I blew my arm out at first,” James said. “But it feels more like a strain. People hear ‘torn muscle’ and they start worrying. It’s like bell-bottom jeans, it’s just a little frayed at the end.

“I felt a little better the first night. It was much improved yesterday. It was a little better today.”

If James isn’t ready to pitch by Friday, the Angels might put him on the disabled list and activate Jarrod Washburn, who was recalled from Vancouver on Tuesday.

Collins would not rule out using Washburn as Friday’s starter.

Jason Dickson, who has given up plenty of line drives but hasn’t been hit by any, will stay in the bullpen through the weekend and start against Chicago on Tuesday.

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Troy Percival had converted 21 consecutive save opportunities, dating back to last season, before a 11-9 lead slipped away in the eighth inning Tuesday. It was a rare eighth-inning appearance for the Angel closer.

“It doesn’t matter what inning you get out there,” said Percival after the 13-11 loss. “You’ve got to do better than I did. You start 2-and-0 to everyone, you get hit. I was horrible. You throw pitches like that, you deserve to get whacked.”

Not that he was going to dwell on it long.

“I’ll be out there tomorrow and if we get the lead, I’ll save the game,” Percival said.

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Edison Field was more like Edison swamp Wednesday, when batting and infield practice were called off. The ground crew vacuumed water in the outfield and then mowed the grass, trying to get the field in shape.

The outfield doesn’t drain well. It was leveled during the renovation, which causes water to sit in large puddles.

“It was a quagmire out there today,” Collins said. “[Maintenance Manager] Barney Lopas did a great job getting it ready.

“Th next person I want to see go on the disabled list is El Nino.”

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The New York Mets, in search of offensive help, were turned down when they contacted the Angels about acquiring Angel outfielder Jim Edmonds, the New York Post reported Wednesday. Met General Manager Steve Phillips said he was told that Edmonds is unavailable.