Donnelly’s Return May Be In Doubt

Although All-Star relief pitcher Brendan Donnelly was scheduled to rejoin the Angels this week, that could be in jeopardy after he reported stiffness in his right elbow and removed himself two batters into a minor league rehabilitation appearance Sunday night.

Tony Reagins, the Angels’ minor league director, said Monday that Donnelly is expected to remain with triple-A Salt Lake and receive treatment there rather than return to Southern California for further examination. Reagins said Donnelly probably would not pitch tonight, as had been scheduled.

“He just had a little bit of stiffness,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “It’s nothing to be concerned about.”

Donnelly underwent arthroscopic surgery on the elbow last September, and doctors removed four bone chips. He has not pitched this season because of complications from a broken nose during spring training. He made three rehabilitation appearances for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and was scheduled to make two for Salt Lake before rejoining the Angels on Friday in Baltimore.

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Outfielder Jose Guillen, lifted onto a stretcher after suffering a sprained right ankle and knee Sunday, flew with the team to New York on Monday and could play in the three-game series that starts tonight at Yankee Stadium. He was evaluated Monday in Anaheim, and nothing that warranted an X-ray or MRI examination was found. He will be checked again today in New York.

“I think we’ll see him out there very shortly,” Scioscia said. “We want to get him out there as soon as he’s ready, but we don’t want to put him at risk, either.”

Scioscia said the team was awaiting results of the MRI ordered to assess the damage to the injured right hamstring of first baseman Darin Erstad. The Angels put Erstad on the disabled list Sunday.

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The Pacific Coast League honored first baseman Robb Quinlan as its most valuable player in 2002, and he hit .287 in 38 games with the Angels last year, in his major league debut. But the Angels did not consider him for their first-base vacancy last winter, negotiating with free agents Travis Lee and Rafael Palmeiro before signing Vladimir Guerrero and moving Erstad to first base. When they put Erstad on the disabled list, they left Quinlan on the bench and promoted top prospect Casey Kotchman from double-A Arkansas.

“They probably view me more as a utility-type player,” said Quinlan, who also can play left field and third base. “I’m at a point where I just want to be a part of this.”

Quinlan, 27 and a 10th-round draft pick, was one of the first players to congratulate Kotchman, 21 and a first-round pick, on his arrival Sunday.

“Casey is obviously a great player,” Quinlan said. “He’s definitely got a good future in this game.”

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Shortstop David Eckstein is hitting .143 since missing five games because of a strained groin. He had 28 at-bats in the Angels’ seven-game homestand and did not strike out.... Scioscia said Troy Glaus, limited to designated hitter duty for the last nine games because of a sore right shoulder, is expected to return to third base sometime on this six-game trip, but not tonight.... Of the six players featured on larger-than-life posters adorning the front of Angel Stadium, three are on the disabled list: Erstad, outfielder Garret Anderson and designated hitter Tim Salmon.

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ON DECK

Opponent -- New York Yankees, three games.

Site -- Yankee Stadium.

TV -- Channel 9 tonight, Fox Sports Net Wednesday and Thursday.

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

Records -- Angels 22-10, Yankees 18-13.

Record vs. Yankees (2003) -- 3-6.

Tonight, 4 -- Kelvim Escobar (2-1, 4.76) vs. Kevin Brown (4-0, 2.89).

Wednesday, 4 p.m. -- Aaron Sele (1-0, 3.80) vs. Javier Vazquez (3-3, 3.73).

Thursday, 10 a.m. -- John Lackey (3-3, 4.23) vs. Jon Lieber (1-1, 6.23).

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Times staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this report.