Edmonds Has a Minor Setback

Jim Edmonds had hoped to be in the Angel lineup Sunday. Instead, he was back at Class-A Lake Elsinore, after a knot in his rib cage kept him from playing Saturday.

Edmonds was expecting to make his last rehabilitation start Saturday, then rejoin the Angels and play for the first time this season. He had surgery on his right shoulder April 19.

“Everything has been pushed back a day,” Edmonds said. “There was some tenderness, but I had [the trainer] work it out. It is fine.”

Edmonds had three hits, including a double, for the Storm on Sunday. He stole a base and drove in a run. Edmonds said the problem was not related to his shoulder surgery. Manager Terry Colins also downplayed it. “Jim had a knot in the back and he’s fine,” Collins said. “We sent him back [Sunday] to get some more at-bats. I don’t know when he will be activated.”

Edmonds said he expected to return to the Angels today or Tuesday. “That’s what I’m supposed to do anyway,” Edmonds said.

*

With 14 losses in 15 games through Saturday, the Angels had left their best pitcher with little to do.

Closer Troy Percival had only two save opportunities during July, and blew one of them.

“There are two things I can do,” Percival said. “I can sit around and mope about it. Or I can keep going out there, get 10 to 15 more saves, and end the season on a good note.”

Percival was rolling toward a monster season when the Angels hit the wall in July. “It’s frustrating when you got a weapon like that down there and can’t use him,” Collins said.

*

Relief pitcher Mike James, who is recovering from elbow and shoulder surgery, began his rehabilitation Saturday, pitching 1 1/3 innings for Lake Elsinore. He gave up three runs on four hits and hit one batter. He will pitch again either Tuesday or Wednesday.

*

Cleveland General Manager John Hart pulled back from trading for pitcher Chuck Finley in part because he had been burned in the past.

The Indians sent outfielder Jeromy Burnitz to Milwaukee for infielder Kevin Seitzer in 1996. Burnitz made the National League All-Star team this season. “Burnitz is still hitting home runs and we got half a season from Seitzer,” Hart said.

Hart also said he was looking at the future and couldn’t part with any of the pitchers the Angels were asking for--David Riske, Jared Camp, Jimmy Hamilton and Willie Martinez.

“I told my scouts that Mike Jackson and Paul Assenmacher are free agents at the end of this year,” Hart said. “We were talking about trading three kids and that could have been my bullpen next year.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Kansas City Royals.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West, all three games.

* Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 44-59, Royals 43-61.

* Record vs. Royals--3-2.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ JACK McDOWELL (0-2, 2.25 ERA) vs. ROYALS’ JOSE ROSADO (6-8, 3.69 ERA)

* Update--McDowell attracted some late interest before the non-waiver trade deadline Saturday, and there is still a chance that he may end up in a pennant race. Collins said that the Angels will probably look at some of their younger pitchers in the coming weeks. McDowell would have to clear waivers before any deal could be made.

* Tuesday--Angels undecided vs. Royals’ Jeff Suppan (5-6, 4.12 ERA), 7 p.m.

* Wednesday--Angels’ Ken Hill (3-10, 5.10 ERA) vs. Royals’ Jay Witasick (4-8, 6.77 ERA), 7:30 p.m.