Percival Is Walking Wounded

Troy Percival has been the beacon of consistency in an Angel bullpen riddled by injury and ineffectiveness. Now Percival, the Angels’ closer, is injured too.

Percival left the stadium Saturday wearing a soft boot to protect an infected left foot. He is scheduled to fly to California today for further examination. Manager Mike Scioscia said he did not expect Percival to be available before Wednesday, when the Angels open a series in Oakland.

Scott Schoeneweis, a starter until two weeks ago, could get a save opportunity in Percival’s absence. So could Ben Weber or rookie Scot Shields, according to Scioscia.

Percival said he didn’t think twice when he scraped the back of his foot--a two-inch scrape, he said--while on a family boating trip during the All-Star break. He earned a save in Thursday’s game, then awoke in the middle of the night. “My foot was bright red, and it was hot,” he said.

The Royals’ medical staff diagnosed the infection Friday and prescribed antibiotics, and Percival said Saturday the irritation is largely gone. Scioscia said the Angels are taking extra care to ensure the infection does not recur and, given its proximity to Percival’s Achilles’ tendon, it does not prevent him from pitching.

Percival ranks second in the American League with 22 saves. When a strained rib cage forced him onto the disabled list in April, Al Levine earned three saves, but Levine is on the disabled list because of a sore shoulder. He is scheduled to make rehabilitation appearances with triple-A Salt Lake Tuesday and Thursday.

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The Angels are believed to have discussed trades for left-handed relievers Vic Darensbourg of the Florida Marlins and Dan Plesac of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Darensbourg, 31, has a 3.97 earned-run average and is guaranteed $775,000 this year and $1.1 million next year. Plesac, 40, has a 4.63 ERA and a $2.2-million salary; he has said he plans to retire after the season.

Dennis Cook’s shoulder injury leaves Schoeneweis as the Angels’ lone left-handed reliever, but General Manager Bill Stoneman’s search for bullpen help might not necessarily lean to the left. Other available left-handed relievers include Jeff Fassero of the Chicago Cubs, Mark Guthrie of the New York Mets, Graeme Lloyd of the Marlins and Ricardo Rincon of the Cleveland Indians.

“I don’t think it’s crucial to get another left-handed arm down there,” Scioscia said. “Bill’s going to try to get the best pitcher he can.”

A baseball source suggested the Indians might be interested in trading right-handed reliever Paul Shuey to the Angels for pitcher Matt Wise, demoted Thursday to triple-A, but the Angels are unlikely to trade Wise. With Schoeneweis anchored in the bullpen for now, the Angels want Wise to start every fifth day at Salt Lake so he could fill in should an injury sideline one of the major league starters.

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Rich Fischer, 21, threw his fourth shutout of the season Thursday for the Angels’ Class-A Rancho Cucamonga affiliate. Fischer, a converted shortstop, leads the minor leagues in strikeouts, shutouts and complete games.

TODAY

ANGELS’

RAMON ORTIZ

(8-6, 3.21 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’

MIGUEL ASENCIO

(1-2, 5.79 ERA)

Kauffman Stadium, 11 a.m. PDT

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

Update--Catcher Bengie Molina and infielder Benji Gil did not play Saturday, Molina because of a slight pull in his left hamstring and Gil because of residual cramping on his right side. Both are expected to be available today.