Team Is Facing Tough Roster Call

When Dallas McPherson is called up from triple-A Salt Lake -- the third baseman, recovering from a herniated disk in his lower back, could return as early as this week -- the Angels will have a potentially vexing roster decision.

Do they cut utility player Lou Merloni from the big league roster and risk losing him to free agency, or option utility player Maicer Izturis, who may have more value than Merloni as a defender -- at least, he did until Saturday’s eighth-inning error against the A’s -- and pinch-runner, to triple-A Salt Lake so he can play every day?

Or do the Angels give up the luxury of carrying three catchers and try to send third-string catcher Josh Paul to Salt Lake, exposing him to a possible waiver claim?

With starting catcher Bengie Molina in the best shape of his career and a capable backup in Jose Molina, there appears to be less need for a third catcher than there was in 2004, when Bengie Molina had several leg injuries; Paul has played in two games so far, as a pinch-hitter and pinch-runner.

But because Manager Mike Scioscia often pinch-runs for Bengie Molina and pinch-hits for Jose Molina, and because Paul can pinch-run and play the outfield and has been an integral part of the team’s chemistry, Paul is expected to remain.

“Josh has a role here -- he may not get in many games, but he can do a lot to help us win,” Scioscia said. “I don’t think you can target any one guy and say he’s doing more than this guy.”

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Kelvim Escobar completed his scheduled bullpen session without incident Saturday, but the Angels decided before the workout that the right-hander would make one more minor league rehabilitation start, this one for Salt Lake at Las Vegas on Tuesday, before returning to the Angel rotation next Sunday.

Scioscia said Friday he would wait until after the workout to determine whether Escobar, on the disabled list because of an elbow sprain, would start Tuesday against Seattle.

But Scioscia decided Saturday morning that Escobar, who threw 58 pitches in a start for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday, would be better off making one more rehab start to stretch himself to the 85-pitch range, instead of possibly overextending himself in Saturday’s bullpen workout to reach 80 pitches or so. Reliever Kevin Gregg, who started in place of Escobar on April 9, will start Tuesday.

“This is the best thing to do,” Escobar said.

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ANGELS TODAY

ANGELS’ JOHN LACKEY vs. ATHLETICS’ KIRK SAARLOOS

*--* THE MATCHUPS 2005 2004 VS OPP TEAMS/PITCHERS W-L ERA TEAM W-L IP ERA ANGELS/Lackey (R) 1-0 6.52 2-0 2-0 21.0 2.57 Oakland/Saarloos (R) 1-1 5.59 1-1 -- -- --

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McAfee Coliseum, 1 p.m.

TV -- FSN West. Radio -- 710, 1020.

Update -- No Angel starter has been more perplexing than Lackey, who was as inconsistent from inning to inning in his two games against Texas as he has been from start to start in the last two years. Saarloos, the former Cal State Fullerton right-hander, has been erratic as well, throwing six shutout innings in his first start against Baltimore on April 6 but giving up six runs in 3 2/3 innings against Toronto on Monday.

-- Mike DiGiovanna