Belcher to Start His Suspension on Friday

Major League Baseball helped dash what little playoff hopes the Angels have left, ordering pitcher Tim Belcher to begin his three-game suspension Friday, the night he was supposed to start against Texas.

Belcher, who is 2-1 and has pitched extremely well since returning from the disabled list in early September, will still make two more starts this season, but the Angels might be eliminated by the time the right-hander returns for Monday night’s game against Oakland.

The suspension, stemming from Belcher’s June 27 ejection at Seattle, will also force Manager Mike Scioscia to piece together three games with relievers this week instead of two.

Middle reliever Al Levine will start tonight against the Royals, but probably can’t pitch more than five innings.

Lou Pote, Scott Karl or Kent Mercker will probably start Friday night against Texas, and Scioscia will probably save one of those three to start Saturday, when the Angels need a fifth starter for the first time in two weeks.

“I regret that my actions resulting in this suspension will affect our team and the rotation in the short term,” Belcher said in a prepared statement. “I was assuming it would not.

“MLB has indicated that all previous suspensions of starting pitchers this season did affect their rotation and this case would be no different. Questioning the accuracy of that is probably not an option.”

*

Scioscia said pitcher Matt Wise, sidelined since Sept. 6 because of a sore elbow, will be shut down for the rest of this season because the right-hander won’t be able to return in time to help the Angels.

One priority for Wise in the off-season will be to add some muscle to his 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame. Wise has a tendency to drop 10-15 pounds during the season.

“He’s gonna room with me next year to make sure he doesn’t lose any weight,” Scioscia said. “He is long and lean.”

*

Catcher Bengie Molina was a last-minute scratch from Tuesday night’s game because of tightness in his left quadriceps, an injury he suffered Sunday at Minnesota. He was replaced by Matt Walbeck. . . . The Angels will move their short-season Class-A team from Butte, Mont., to Helena, Mont., where it will become an advanced rookie-league team. Helena’s player-development contract with the Angels is for four years.

TONIGHT ANGELS’ AL LEVINE

(3-4, 3.43 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’ MAC SUZUKI

(8-10, 4.18 ERA)

Kauffman Stadium, 5 p.m.

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

* Update--Levine lasted only four innings in his previous start against the Twins on Friday night. The bullpen will be taxed over the next four days, but with an expanded roster that includes 12 relievers, the Angels should have enough pitching to get by.