Ace Washburn Ready If Needed

While Jarrod Washburn said he will be ready to pitch Thursday’s series finale against the Oakland Athletics on three days rest, the left-handed starter said the decision is ultimately out of his hands.

An official announcement will be made today.

“I feel good,” Washburn said Monday, nearly 24 hours after throwing 103 pitches in six innings at Baltimore. “If [Manager] Mike [Scioscia] and [pitching coach] Buddy [Black] decide that that’s the route we’re going to go, then I’m ready.

“I always want to pitch. It’s up to the coaching staff to decide whether I can pitch on three days rest or not. It’s not my decision.”

Scioscia said the decision will hinge on the domino effect created by moving Washburn up.

“If you move one guy in the rotation, you have to weigh some things to see what makes more sense,” Scioscia said. “Is it a darker picture than you had just going through it?”

The pitcher who would be bumped is right-hander Mickey Callaway, who was recalled from triple-A Salt Lake on Aug. 24 and has doubled his career win total by going 1-0 with a 1.86 earned-run average in three spot starts for the Angels. He said he would have no issues with being bumped.

“I’m just happy to be here and trying to get us some wins,” Callaway said. “I think [if Washburn does pitch Thursday], I would pitch the ... following day against Texas so it would just give me an extra day of rest and that would be great.”

Washburn, who has won a career-high 17 games in his fifth major league season, said he has thrown on three days rest before.

“I did it in the minor leagues,” he said. “I felt good doing it then and I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be able to do it now.”

*

Aaron Sele, on the disabled list with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, threw off a mound Monday for the first time since Aug. 20, when he left the Angels’ 7-5 loss at the New York Yankees with discomfort in the shoulder.

Sele reported no pain after the 10-minute session, in which he threw fastballs from the hill and curveballs from flat ground, and said his next session would be determined by how he felt today.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

RAMON ORTIZ

(12-9, 3.86 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’

TED LILLY

(4-6, 3.39 ERA)

Edison Field, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net.

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

Update--Ortiz has never defeated Oakland, going 0-4 with a 7.02 earned-run average in seven career appearances against the Athletics. The left-handed Lilly will be making his first start since July 20, as he was on the disabled list with inflammation in his throwing shoulder.