Valdes Put On Disabled List

Pitcher Ismael Valdes, rocked for eight runs in 3 1/3 innings of his last start in San Francisco Thursday, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder.

An MRI test Monday revealed no major abnormalities, but the Angels felt 10 days of rest and strengthening exercises would be the best current course of action.

“He felt he could have made his next start if we pushed him back to Saturday,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “But an extra week should clear out the inflammation, and he should be ready to pitch [on June 30].”

Valdes, who is 4-4 with a 4.37 earned-run average, felt stiff after his between-starts workout Saturday. He said the discomfort was similar to the tendinitis that hampered him for much of the 2000 season.

“Of course I’m nervous about it,” said Valdes, who was scheduled to pitch today. “But everything turned out OK with the tests and it’s nothing serious. It’s disappointing, but this is best for the team.”

The Angels recalled reliever Bart Miadich, who had a 1.16 ERA and 12 saves in 27 games at triple-A Salt Lake, to replace Valdes, but Miadich will stay with the Angels for only two days.

Right-hander Matt Wise, who is 6-4 with a 4.13 ERA at Salt Lake, will be recalled to pitch Thursday against Texas, and Ramon Ortiz, who was supposed to pitch Thursday on an extra day of rest, will pitch tonight’s game.

Kenny Rogers will pitch for the Rangers tonight, which doesn’t bode well for the Angels. Not because Rogers has a 13-7 career record and 3.47 ERA against the Angels, but because he is a soft-throwing left-hander.

Left-handers who are not overpowering but change speeds well, pitchers such as Rogers, Seattle’s John Halama, Toronto’s Chris Michalak and San Francisco’s Kirk Rueter, have given the Angels fits this season.

In 12 games against soft-throwing left-handers, the Angels are 3-9, with those pitchers giving up 29 earned runs in 70 2/3 innings for a 3.69 ERA. The reason, according to the Angels’ Tim Salmon: Left-handers have been much more aggressive.

“When I was coming up and facing guys like Jimmy Key and Jamie Moyer, it was different,” Salmon said. “You could sit on the outside part of the plate and not worry about hard stuff inside. Nowadays, they bust you inside with fastballs. They’re not throwing inside for show anymore. It’s for strikeouts.”

Reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa, out since May 20 because of a slight tear in his rotator cuff, felt good after throwing eight minutes in the bullpen and 10 minutes of batting practice Tuesday. Hasegawa will throw a simulated game Friday and should begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment next week. . . . Triple-A pitcher Steve Green will undergo surgery today to repair the torn flexor muscle in his right forearm and damage to an elbow ligament. Green, who was injured June 1, hopes to return by the All-Star break next season. . . . The Angels have agreed to terms with five of their top picks from the June 5 draft, third baseman Dallas McPherson (second round) and pitchers Steven Shell (third), Jacob Woods (third), Michael Nickoli (fourth) and Bradley Pinkerton (fifth). Of their 52 picks, 28 have signed.