Glaus Is Still Doubtful

Although extensive testing Tuesday ruled out a broken bone or other serious injury within the right wrist of third baseman Troy Glaus, the Angels still aren’t sure whether he will be able to play in Sunday’s season opener.

“There are definitely at-bats he’s going to need,” Mike Scioscia said. “Hopefully, it’s not something where we’ll have to put him on the disabled list.”

After reviewing the results of X-rays and MRI and CT scans, doctors confirmed the original diagnosis of tendinitis and concluded there was no structural damage, a finding General Manager Bill Stoneman called a “best-case scenario.”

Glaus will receive therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs and will rejoin the team Friday at Dodger Stadium. By then, he will not have played in six days, so the Angels will determine whether his wrist and his bat are ready for the opener. In 42 at-bats this spring, he has 16 strikeouts and a .214 batting average. If the Angels put him on the disabled list, he would miss at least the first seven games.

The injury could nag him throughout the season. Tendinitis plagued him at times last summer, although the injury did not force him to miss any games. He hit 30 home runs, down from 41 in 2001 and 47 in 2000.

“I don’t think it was a major contributor to his home runs being down,” Scioscia said.

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Jarrod Washburn, appearing in a Cactus League game for the first time since suffering a sprained left shoulder three weeks ago, said he expects pain to linger within the shoulder during the season. Trainers have told him the discomfort should disappear over the next month, but the only sure cure is rest.

“I’m going to be pitching, so I’m going to irritate it every five days,” he said.

Washburn, rebuilding arm strength through the pain, made 79 pitches over five innings Tuesday, giving up three runs and six hits in a 5-5 tie with Colorado.

He is scheduled to throw 90 pitches in a minor league exhibition game Sunday. The game starts at noon Pacific time, and he hopes to fly to California in time to help his teammates raise the World Series championship flag before the 5 p.m. season opener.

The Phoenix airport is almost an hour’s drive from the Angels’ minor league camp, although there is a small airfield near the complex. When asked whether the Angels had arranged for a private plane to ensure he would arrive in Anaheim before the ceremony, he smiled and shook his head no.

“That would be nice of them, wouldn’t it?” he said.

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Pitcher Matt Wise underwent reconstructive elbow surgery Tuesday. The lengthy rehabilitation period means that Wise will sit out the season.... John Lackey starts today, but he’ll pitch only two or three innings in a final tuneup for his opening-night start.... Scioscia said center fielder Darin Erstad, who sat out the last two games because of a sore right hand, is expected to play today.