Injury May Sideline Anderson Tonight

Left fielder Garret Anderson (strained right hamstring) may miss the opener of a four-game American League West showdown with the Oakland Athletics beginning tonight at Network Associates Coliseum, Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Anderson sat out Sunday’s 13-4 victory against the Texas Rangers at Edison Field after suffering the strain on an infield hit in the third inning of Saturday’s 8-6 victory. Although the strain is considered to be mild, Scioscia said he would not take any chances with the club’s top run producer, batting .314 with a team-leading 26 home runs and 114 runs batted in.

“We’ll see, but if he needs another day we’ll give it to him,” he said. “Although we’re at a juncture of the season where we’re going to be looking to play through some things, there’s still enough baseball left to where we’ve got to make sure that these guys aren’t at risk out there.”

Anderson said he was not sure if he would be able to play today.

*

Scioscia declined to reveal his rotation plans for the Oakland series, but the Angels are expected to bring back left-hander Jarrod Washburn and right-hander Kevin Appier on three days’ rest to start Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Washburn, the Angel staff ace, would face Oakland 17-game winner Mark Mulder, and Appier would be matched up against 21-game winner Barry Zito.

Fatigue and arm strength are concerns when starters work on short rest at this stage of the season, but pitching coach Bud Black believes Washburn and Appier would be up to the challenge if Scioscia calls on them.

Washburn is coming off a strong 7 1/3-inning outing Friday in a victory against Texas. Appier lasted only 3 1/3 innings--throwing 81 pitches--in Saturday’s victory.

“He was short enough on pitches, so he could come back a little earlier,” Scioscia said.

ON DECK

Opponent--Oakland Athletics, four games.

Site--Network Associates Coliseum.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; Channel 9 on Tuesday.

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

Records--Angels 94-55, A’s 93-56.

Record vs. A’s--8-8.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JOHN LACKEY

(8-3, 3.65 ERA)

vs.

A’S

CORY LIDLE

(8-10, 3.96 ERA)

Update--The Angels took three of four from Oakland last week at Edison Field. Lackey, a rookie right-hander, gets the ball in the opener after having struggled against the A’s in his last start (4 1/3 innings, five runs). Lidle is 6-3 with a 2.51 earned-run average in the second half.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (18-5, 3.24) vs. Mark Mulder (17-7, 3.74).

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Kevin Appier (14-10, 3.86) vs. Barry Zito (21-5, 2.64).

Thursday, 12:30 p.m.--Mickey Callaway (1-0, 3.13) vs. Tim Hudson (13-9, 3.14).

Jason Reid