After Much Concern, Holtz Is Much Better

A precautionary CT scan on reliever Mike Holtz’s throwing elbow Tuesday showed no abnormalities, and the left-hander probably will be available to pitch tonight or Thursday.

Holtz, who has a 5.56 earned-run average in 14 appearances, experienced tightness and stiffness in the elbow Saturday morning in Detroit and was shut down over the weekend.

There was some concern that Holtz might have had a reoccurrence of the problems that led to reconstructive elbow surgery when he was in college in 1992. But Holtz felt better Tuesday and was able to play catch before Tuesday night’s game against the Blue Jays.

“I don’t know if I slept on it wrong, or what,” Holtz said. “I’m definitely relieved. Having had major elbow problems 10 years ago, you’re always concerned when there’s a little more discomfort than you’re used to having. But with a couple days rest, I should be OK.”

Holtz’s loss could be felt during this series because he has had success against Toronto’s best hitter, Carlos Delgado, who is two for 10 with four strikeouts against Holtz. Rookie Mark Lukasiewicz is the only other left-hander in the Angel bullpen.

Designated hitter Glenallen Hill, sidelined since April 21 because of a strained left oblique and slowed last week by a strained right hamstring, took extended batting practice.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Hill, who is hitting .135 with one homer and two runs batted in, will begin a brief minor league rehabilitation assignment--four or five games--with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga within a week.

Reserve catcher Jorge Fabregas, out since May 6 because of an inflamed right elbow, played catch for eight minutes, the first time he has thrown since going on the disabled list.

Fabregas will spend this week building arm strength and should be ready to join the Angels when he’s eligible to come off the DL on May 21.

Starting catcher Bengie Molina, who strained his right hamstring May 4, began jogging but is still several weeks away from returning.

The Angels entered Tuesday night’s game 11 games behind red-hot Seattle in the American League West, but that has hardly discouraged Scioscia, whose glass isn’t merely half-full; it’s usually overflowing.

“We’re not so far behind we’re choking on someone’s dust,” Scioscia said. “Everything Seattle has done this season has been fundamentally sound, and that’s our goal, to play that kind of baseball for an extended period.

“I feel we’re good enough that no matter what they do, we can catch them . . . unless they keep playing at a [.757] clip. Then no one can catch them.”

First baseman Wally Joyner’s recent 17-for-43 surge, which raised his average from .156 on April 27 to .273 this week, has coincided with more playing time, but Joyner is not about to lobby Scioscia for even more starts.

“Sometimes if you play a lot, you get overexposed,” Joyner, 38, said. “For me, I would imagine that getting my at-bats, knowing I’m going to play more than not, has helped a lot. Does that mean I want to up my playing time? No. I’m fine, as long as they’re happy with this.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

SCOTT SCHOENEWEIS

(2-2, 3.24 ERA)

vs.

BLUE JAYS’

STEVE PARRIS

(2-2, 6.31 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

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

Update--Schoeneweis will make his first start since being scratched from Thursday night’s game in Chicago because of lower back spasms. The left-hander limited the Blue Jays to one run--a Jeff Frye homer--on five hits in seven innings of a 2-0 loss in Toronto on April 29. Parris, the Blue Jay right-hander, threw seven shutout innings, giving up seven hits, for the victory that day.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000