Scioscia Ponders a Fun Dilemma

Mike Scioscia has a problem every other manager would love to be faced with: How do you find ways to rest baseball’s hottest lineup without cooling it down?

“It’s a great problem to have when you can’t pick a bat to take out of the lineup,” Scioscia said.

With a doubleheader today, in the midst of 14 games in 13 days as part of an 11-game trip in 10 days, all in the heat of summer, Scioscia has no choice.

He tried to rest right fielder Tim Salmon on Sunday, replacing him in the starting lineup with Orlando Palmeiro, but Salmon still came in to play in the seventh inning.

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Third baseman Troy Glaus came out in the fifth inning after aggravating a nerve injury between two toes on his right foot, but Scioscia expects Glaus to be available today.

ON DECK

Opponent--Texas Rangers, five games.

Site--The Ballpark at Arlington, Texas.

Today--Doubleheader, 3 p.m. PDT.

TV--Channel 9 today, Tuesday and Thursday.

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

Records--Angels 43-29, Rangers 32-41.

Record vs. Rangers--6-2.

TODAY

FIRST GAME

ANGELS’

AARON SELE

(6-4, 5.29 ERA)

vs.

RANGERS’

JOAQUIN BENOIT

(1-0, 2.70 ERA)

SECOND GAME

ANGELS’

JOHN LACKEY

(major league debut)

vs.

RANGERS’

DAVE BURBA

(3-4, 5.40 ERA)

Update--A long trip has been made even longer by the addition of a second game tonight. It’s the makeup for a game rained out April 7. The Angels won the first two games of that series, their only appearance in Arlington this season after having lost seven of nine played there last year. To make room for Lackey, the Angels will have to make a roster move after tonight’s first game.

Tuesday, 5 p.m.--Scott Schoeneweis (6-5, 4.83) vs. Ismael Valdes (4-6, 3.86).

Wednesday, 5 p.m.--Ramon Ortiz (8-5, 3.34) vs. Kenny Rogers (8-4, 3.24).

Thursday, 5 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (7-2, 3.59) vs. Rob Bell (3-2, 5.80).