Mercker Will Return to Start Against Yankees

The original plan called for Kent Mercker to make three or four minor league starts before being recalled by the Angels.

Simple economics reduced that rehabilitation assignment to one game--Mercker’s next start will be Saturday against the Yankees in Edison Field, the left-hander’s first big-league appearance since suffering a life-threatening cerebral hemorrhage on May 11.

“It’s supply and demand,” said Mercker, who pitched for Class-A Lake Elsinore last week. “It’s out of necessity.”

With Jarrod Washburn and Seth Etherton on the disabled list, Brian Cooper at triple-A Edmonton, Ken Hill released and Kent Bottenfield traded, the Angels had little choice but to turn to Mercker, who threw 52 pitches last week. Mercker said he’ll be strong enough to make 80-85 pitches Saturday.

“I’ve never believed in a pitch limit,” Mercker said. “There have been games where I’ve thrown 85 pitches and felt a lot worse than I did after throwing 120 pitches. One hundred pitches over six innings is more stressful than 100 pitches over eight innings.”

Mercker, who spent 12 days in the hospital in May, including four in intensive care, has been cleared by several doctors, and he has no reservations about returning to the mound.

“I haven’t even thought about [the hemorrhage] yet, and I don’t foresee myself standing on the mound and thinking about what happened three months ago,” Mercker said. “It’s not going to be an emotional day for me.”

*

Washburn, who left Monday’s game in the sixth inning because of a sore shoulder, underwent a bone scan and several vascular tests Tuesday, the results of which were not available.

But the left-hander was told by team physician Lewis Yocum that the injury does not appear to be in his rotator cuff or labrum, the two hot spots that usually require surgery to repair.

“That’s good news, but I want an explanation,” Washburn said. “I’m tired of not knowing what’s going on. I’m worried because it hurts, and I want to find a way to fix it.”

The shoulder has bothered Washburn since May 29, when he was pulled from a game in Cleveland despite throwing a no-hitter through five innings.

“I didn’t want to admit I was hurt,” Washburn said. “I wanted to keep pitching and hope it went away, but it got to the point [Monday] night where I couldn’t pitch any more.”

*

The Angels Tuesday called up outfielder Chris Hatcher from Edmonton to replace Washburn on the roster, a move that, at least temporarily, gives Manager Mike Scioscia six bench players. Because they’ve carried 12 pitchers all season, Scioscia has had only four bench players.

“Usually I have option A or nothing,” Scioscia said. “I don’t know if this much depth will make a difference in any one game, but to have gotten this far with a four-man bench is incredible.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ MATT WISE

(0-0, 0.00)

vs.

RED SOX’S JEFF FASSERO

(7-5, 5.28 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net. Radio--KLAC (570),

XPRS (1090)

* Update--Wise, the former Pepperdine and Cal State Fullerton right-hander, will become the 12th pitcher to start a game for the Angels this season. A graduate of La Verne Bonita High, Wise isn’t the type to overpower opponents. He has a 90-mph fastball with some sinking action and a good slider, but his out pitch is a changeup, which he began throwing soon after the Angels drafted him in 1997. Wise has made two relief appearances since being recalled from Edmonton last week and was the 22nd pitcher the Angels have used this season.

* Tickets: (714) 663-9000