Progress Is Name of Game for Young Pitching Trio

The Angels might not win a championship this season, but the development of three young starting pitchers offers the most encouraging sign of championship potential.

In the winter, the Angels disdained expensive free-agent arms and committed spots in their starting rotation to Scott Schoeneweis, Ramon Ortiz and Jarrod Washburn. Schoeneweis lost 10 of his final 13 decisions a year ago, Ortiz was wildly inconsistent and Washburn missed almost all of the second half because of biceps and shoulder injuries.

This season, the trio has avoided arm injuries while starting 35 games, pitching at least six innings 29 times and holding opponents to four earned runs or fewer 29 times.

“I think their progress has been on track,” pitching coach Bud Black said. “More than anything, we wanted them to make their starts. When you’re able to do that, you can consistently work on getting better. These guys have done that. You’re seeing the results of that in their performances.”

Schoeneweis, 27, is 6-3 with a 3.92 earned-run average. Ortiz, 25, is 4-4 with a 4.00 ERA. Washburn, 26, is 4-4 with a 4.39 ERA.

General Manager Bill Stoneman, criticized for turning over the majority of his rotation to young and unproven pitchers, has been rewarded with the development of three proficient if not yet dominant starters.

“We’re not even at the halfway point, but every day they continue to go out there and pitch the way they’ve been pitching, everybody is becoming more and more convinced these guys are solid major league pitchers,” Stoneman said. “I don’t think there are too many people right now who would question that they are major league pitchers.”

When the Angels released Glenallen Hill, they replaced him on the roster with Jeff DaVanon, who went from tearing up the Pacific Coast League to starting at designated hitter the day he arrived from triple-A Salt Lake. He homered that day, started at DH the next day and struck out three times, and has barely played since. In the last seven games, DaVanon has been used as a pinch-hitter twice and pinch-runner once.

“We’re looking to get him back into the lineup as much as we can,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Still, with the Angels playing their next three games in a National League ballpark, they won’t need a DH and DaVanon may be stuck on the bench again. Since he can switch-hit, pinch-run, play all the outfield positions and even second base in a pinch, he might fit best as a reserve outfielder.

“This guy is really coming into his own as a hitter,” Scioscia said. “I think his bat, if it keeps coming, could push him into a lineup. I think his upside is much better than just as a fourth outfielder.”

An MRI exam Monday revealed no structural abnormalities in the left shoulder of left-hander Joe Torres, but the test did show what the Angels called “general weakness” in the shoulder. The Angels assigned Torres to their minor league camp to begin a strengthening program and offered no timetable for his return.

Torres, 18, ranked by Baseball America as the Angels’ top prospect, was sidelined for the first seven weeks of the season so he could strengthen the shoulder. He made four starts at Class-A Cedar Rapids, leaving his last start after one inning while complaining of a dead arm.

ON DECK

Opponent--San Francisco Giants, three games.

Site--Pacific Bell Park.

Tonight--7:15.

TV--Channel 9 tonight and Thursday; Fox Sports Net Wednesday.

Radio--KLAC (570) tonight and Thursday; KMPC (1540) and KMXN (94.3) Wednesday; XPRS (1090) all three games.

Records--Angels 31-30, Giants 31-32.

Record vs. Giants (2000)--2-1.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ PAT RAPP

(1-6, 4.63 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’ KIRK RUETER

(6-6, 6.16 ERA)

Update--Beware of Barry Bonds: The Giants’ slugger, who leads the major leagues with 32 home runs, is seven for 14 against Rapp, with two home runs, six walks and no strikeouts. A victory tonight would move the Angels two games above .500, tying a season high set April 13.

Wednesday, 7:15 p.m.--Scott Schoeneweis (6-3, 3.92 ERA) vs. Russ Ortiz (7-4, 4.04 ERA).

Thursday, 12:30 p.m.--Ismael Valdes (4-3, 3.51 ERA) vs. Mark Gardner (1-5, 5.90 ERA).