ON DECK

* Opponent--New York Yankees, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7:30 p.m.

* Record vs. Yankees--6-4 in 1999.

* TV--Channel 9 tonight, Fox Sports Net Tuesday night, Fox Sports Net 2 Wednesday night.

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

* 1999 Records--Angels 70-92, Yankees 98-64.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KEN HILL

(4-11, 4.77 ERA in 1999)

vs.

YANKEES’

ORLANDO HERNANDEZ

(17-9, 4.12 ERA in 1999)

* Update--New Manager Mike Scioscia has been saying all spring that the Angels have enough starting pitching to contend for the division title. A season-opening series against the two-time defending World Series-champion Yankees, to be followed by three games against the wild-card winning Boston Red Sox, should provide some answers. The Angels also have a three-game series against the improved Toronto Blue Jays next week. Hill, tonight’s starter, had a 10.26 earned-run average in his first five spring starts before rebounding with a six-inning, one-run, three-hit performance against San Diego last Wednesday. Kent Bottenfield, acquired in the Jim Edmonds trade, has a tough American League-debut assignment Tuesday night. Not only will he have to face one of baseball’s most potent lineups, a group that features Derek Jeter, Paul O’Neill, Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez, he will oppose Yankee right-hander Roger Clemens, who has a career 25-8 record and 2.49 ERA against the Angels. The Yankees also have the game’s best closer in Mariano Rivera, who carries a 30 2/3-inning scoreless streak into the season. All of the Angel regulars had solid springs offensively, but center fielder Garret Anderson has been particularly hot of late, homering twice in weekend games against the Padres.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Kent Bottenfield (18-7, 3.97) vs. Roger Clemens (14-10, 4.60).

* Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Scott Schoeneweis (1-1, 5.49) vs. David Cone (12-9, 3.44).