Washburn Diagnosed With Shoulder Fracture

Jarrod Washburn’s sore shoulder will not require surgery, but the left-hander still might miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his shoulder blade, an injury he most likely suffered in a May 29 game at Cleveland but continued to pitch with.

Doctors told Washburn the quarter-inch fracture, caused by the constant strain of muscles attached to the shoulder blade pulling away from the bone, could take up to eight weeks to heal.

“That’s a nice thing to be pitching with for two months, huh?” Washburn said. “At least now people won’t think I’m crazy [for complaining about shoulder pain]. Then again, they might think I’m crazy for pitching with a broken shoulder.”

Washburn, who underwent a battery of tests after being pulled from Monday night’s game against Boston in the sixth inning, was relieved he did not suffer any rotator cuff or labrum damage.

He will be allowed to resume throwing once the bone has mended and the pain has subsided. That could be as early as late August. It could be as late as early October.

“I guess that doesn’t narrow it down much,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

The loss of Washburn could put a significant dent in Angel playoff hopes--with a 7-2 record and 3.74 earned-run average, he is probably the Angels’ best starting pitcher.

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Attention, fans who follow the Angels on the Internet: Washburn does not have a blood clot in his shoulder.

According to an Angel Web site posting from someone claiming to be Washburn’s younger sister, Casey, the Angels were concerned that Washburn “has a blood clot in his shoulder and that it may travel. . . . Surgery may be necessary.”

The message sparked several replies from concerned fans who vowed to pray for Washburn. Washburn was not pleased about the scare the message caused, but he did not doubt its authenticity--he does have a 19-year-old sister named Casey who is active on the Web site.

“I don’t know where she came up with that one--she should know better,” Washburn said. “That was just one of the things they checked for, but it didn’t show up. I’ll have to give her a call.”

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Both reliever Al Levine, who is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday, and starter Tim Belcher, who hopes to return this season, had bullpen workouts Tuesday. Neither Seth Etherton, sidelined because of a tired right arm, nor closer Troy Percival, who has inflammation in his elbow, has begun throwing yet.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KENT MERCKER

(0-1, 5.16 ERA)

vs.

YANKEES’

DENNY NEAGLE

(2-2, 3.93 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net

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

* Update--Mercker will be making his first big league appearance since May 11, that fateful night when the left-hander suffered a life-threatening cerebral hemorrhage on the Edison Field mound and spent the next 12 days in a hospital, four in the intensive care unit. Mercker has tried to downplay his return, but “for him to be pitching three months after that is miraculous,” Scioscia said. “It’s just a testament to his intestinal fortitude.” Mercker made only one minor league rehabilitation start, and the Angels are hoping he can throw 90-95 pitches, “which should give us six innings,” Scioscia said. To make room for Mercker, the Angels optioned Chris Hatcher to triple-A Edmonton.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.