Colon to Go on Short Rest

Bartolo Colon will pitch on three days’ rest Wednesday in Cleveland, and the Angels will call up Ervin Santana from double-A Arkansas to fill Kelvim Escobar’s spot in the rotation Tuesday.

On Saturday, Angel Manager Mike Scioscia considered Colon a longshot to pitch Wednesday. Colon had thrown 88 pitches in a rain-shortened, five-inning stint, and also was suffering from what Scioscia called flu-like symptoms.

But Colon’s health had improved Sunday, allowing him to make the start.

It will be the third time Colon has worked on three days’ rest. He is 1-1 with a 5.02 earned-run average in those games. The victory came last season, when he pitched seven shutout innings to defeat Oakland on Oct. 1, when the Angels clinched a tie for the American League West title.

Santana is 5-1 with a 2.31 ERA, 32 strikeouts and 15 walks in 39 innings for Arkansas.

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Outfielder Steve Finley was given another day off to rest his sore left groin. He was the Angels’ designated hitter in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday and was used as a pinch-hitter in the second game.

“Steve is feeling a little better, but is not to the point where he feels comfortable playing in the outfield,” Scioscia said. “That’s a big part of what we need.

“It’s something we don’t want to take a chance with. The groin is a tough area for a player, any player. We don’t want this to lead to anything.”

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Scioscia reiterated his patience with third baseman Dallas McPherson, who has struck out 23 times in 22 games. But Scioscia said things would be easier to accept if McPherson was producing runs.

McPherson has struck out six times in his last 15 at-bats. He has one home run and three runs batted in.

“There are always growing pains with a young player,” Scioscia said. “But the strikeouts are more acceptable if the production is there. If you can look at the runs scored and runs batted in, it looks a little better.”

McPherson is not the only Angel to struggle. Chone Figgins was hitless in five at-bats Sunday and has one hit in his last 30 at-bats. His average has dropped from .313 on May 3 to .250.

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Detroit Tiger catcher Ivan Rodriguez took a foul tip off his left foot in the first inning and left in the third inning because of a contusion on his big toe.

Dmitri Young suffered a sprained left ankle beating out an infield hit in the seventh.

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With onetime political enemies working together to secure bipartisan support, the California State Assembly is scheduled to vote today on a bill that would require the Angels to put disclaimers on tickets and ads warning consumers that the team plays in Anaheim, not Los Angeles.

Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove), the author of the bill, has taken charge of rounding up Democratic votes. Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, a Republican and former speaker of the assembly, has rounded up Republican votes. In 1990, Umberg beat Pringle in a hotly contested Assembly race.

The Assembly’s Democratic caucus has endorsed the bill and the Republican caucus has taken no position, according to George Urch, chief of staff for Umberg. If the Assembly approves the bill, it would require the approval of the Senate and the signature of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger before becoming law Jan. 1.

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ON DECK

Opponent -- Cleveland Indians, three games.

Site -- Jacobs Field.

TV -- Channel 9 tonight and Tuesday, FSN West and ESPN on Wednesday.

Radio -- 710, 1020.

Records -- Angels 21-16, Indians 16-20.

Record vs. Indians -- 1-2.

Tonight, 4 PDT -- Paul Byrd (3-3, 4.80) vs. Cliff Lee (4-1, 4.24).

Tuesday, 4 p.m. -- Ervin Santana (0-0, 0.00) vs. Scott Elarton (0-2, 7.47).

Wednesday, 9 a.m. -- Bartolo Colon (4-3, 2.91) vs. Jake Westbrook (1-6, 6.53).