Rodriguez Understands Role

Francisco Rodriguez has looked comfortable in the closer role, converting all three of his save opportunities and giving up no runs in seven innings over five appearances since Troy Percival went on the disabled list June 5.

But the 22-year-old right-hander, who was the Angels’ primary setup man before Percival suffered an inflamed elbow, does not intend to get too comfortable in the closer spot.

“When Troy gets back, he’s going to have his job back,” Rodriguez said. “I’m just trying to step up for him.”

Rodriguez, he of the 95-mph fastball and wicked slider, has established himself as the Angel closer of the future, and nothing he has done so far this season -- as a setup man or closer -- has altered the Angels’ thinking.

Rodriguez has a 1.22 earned-run average, 57 strikeouts and 12 walks in 37 innings and has baffled some of baseball’s best hitters.

“He has phenomenal stuff, and he’s not shaken by anything,” Percival said. “At some point in his career, he’s going to be a good closer.”

Percival, who moved from setup man to closer in 1996, has said that the most challenging part of the job is adjusting to the pressure of the ninth inning, where there rarely is room for error and the closer is the last line of defense.

Rodriguez says that he has felt a little more pressure in the ninth.

“It’s different because the hitters are down to their last chance, they’re just trying to get on base, and they’re attacking you,” he said. “There are little things you don’t realize, some situations, that are different.”

One thing Rodriguez has yet to experience since replacing Percival: failure.

“He’s easing into it right now, and it helps that his stuff is so good,” Percival said. “There are going to be days when he doesn’t have his great stuff and he has to figure out how to do it. You don’t really notice the difference [between being a setup man and closer] until you mess it up a few times.”

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Percival took the first step toward what he hopes will be an early July return by playing catch for 10 minutes Thursday, the first time he has thrown since going on the DL. He’ll continue throwing off flat ground for a week to 10 days and then will throw in the bullpen two or three times before pitching a simulated game or two or going on a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

Pitcher Aaron Sele (right shoulder fatigue) played long toss Thursday and appeared on course to return next weekend. Catcher Bengie Molina (strained left calf) caught a bullpen session and ran Thursday, and Manager Mike Scioscia said he was on course to return Saturday against the Astros. Shortstop David Eckstein received a cortisone shot in his strained right hamstring Thursday and was hoping to return by this weekend.

Reliever Ben Weber, who was demoted to triple-A Salt Lake on June 5, is experiencing right shoulder discomfort and has returned to Southern California to be examined by team physician Lewis Yocum.

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Scouting director Eddie Bane returned from a trip to Alabama on Thursday fully confident that the Angels would be able to sign fourth-round pick Patrick White, a standout high school center fielder and quarterback who was quoted two days after the draft as saying that he would attend West Virginia on a football scholarship.

“West Virginia stormed in there after the draft, but I still think we’ll get it done,” Bane said. “He’s realizing he’s a major leaguer and not an NFL guy. We just have to convince him of that.”

Bane said he gained confidence that he could sign White “after looking him in the eye and knowing what kind of baseball player he can be. He’s never devoted himself entirely to baseball. He’s a true center fielder, a great athlete.”

ON DECK

Opponent -- Houston Astros, three games.

Site -- Minute Maid Park, Houston.

TV -- Channel 9 tonight and Saturday, Fox Sports Net Sunday.

Radio -- KSPN (710), KTNQ (1020).

Records -- Angels 36-29, Astros 33-32.

Tonight, 5 PDT -- Kelvim Escobar (4-2, 3.27) vs. Pete Munro (0-0, 2.79).

Saturday, 4 p.m. -- Ramon Ortiz (2-5, 5.32) vs. Roger Clemens (9-1, 2.46).

Sunday, 11 a.m. -- Jarrod Washburn (7-3, 5.31) vs. Wade Miller (6-6, 3.77).