Some Might Not See Rotation Shuffle as Right Step to Take

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia plans to use days off Monday and Sept. 6 to juggle his rotation, hoping to get maximum use from his top starters. The moves, though, may ruffle the feathers of those temporarily bumped from the rotation.

John Lackey is scheduled to start Tuesday in Boston, and Scioscia said he would bring Bartolo Colon back Thursday night against the Red Sox, in order to keep the ace on his normal four days’ rest.

That means Scioscia must choose between Aaron Sele, who has given up three earned runs in 15 innings of his last three starts, and Ramon Ortiz, who threw eight four-hit, shutout innings in Yankee Stadium on Aug. 20, for Wednesday night’s game against Boston.

“Every player, every pitcher in that room has a tremendous amount of confidence in his ability,” Scioscia said. “But as we move forward, there are less innings and less at-bats for some guys. It happens to every team that’s in the playoff hunt in September. Any competitor would be disappointed if his role is diminished, but you just have to move forward.”

The Angels are also expected to fold Jarrod Washburn, who will make a minor league rehabilitation start tonight for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, into the rotation Saturday against Cleveland, meaning Sele and Ortiz could both be pushed further into the background.

The Red Sox will counter with Curt Schilling, Bronson Arroyo and Derek Lowe in a series that could have American League wild-card implications.

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Troy Glaus, who had three hits, including two home runs, in 13 at-bats in the first four games of his rehabilitation assignment for Rancho Cucamonga, probably will skip a stint with triple-A Salt Lake and join the Angels in Boston this week.

Glaus is recovering from surgery May 21 on his right shoulder. The original plan was for the slugger to spend a week or so at Class A and then play a few games at triple A, where he would face better pitching.

But the Angels are satisfied enough with Glaus’ progress to believe they can drop him into the sixth or seventh spot in their batting order this week.

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An MRI test confirmed the original diagnosis for outfielder Jeff DaVanon, who sprained his right ankle running the bases Friday night and is expected to be out five to seven games.... Reserve outfielder Tim Salmon has experienced too much discomfort in his injured left shoulder to swing a bat this weekend. Salmon, who has four tears in the shoulder, hopes to be available Tuesday.... Twin third baseman Corey Koskie, injured in the fourth inning Friday night when Curtis Pride slid into his left leg, suffered a mid- to high-ankle sprain. The Twins’ hottest hitter could be sidelined for several weeks.

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AL Wild-Card Race

*--* W L GB Boston 75 53 -- ANGELS 74 55 1 1/2 Texas 73 55 2

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