Angels’ First Foe Won’t Be Red Sox

The Angels’ playoff picture went from extremely hazy to partly cloudy Saturday when their list of potential first-round opponents was pared from three to two, the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.

But the Angels’ 7-6 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night, a victory that featured a two-run home run, double and single from left fielder Garret Anderson, assured the American League division series pairings will remain muddled heading into the final day of the regular season.

The Angels will open Tuesday against the White Sox in Chicago or the Yankees in New York or Anaheim, but if Cleveland forces a one-game playoff against Boston for the wild card, the Angels will remain in a holding pattern in Texas until Monday night.

Saturday’s win kept the Angels’ home-field advantage hopes alive. An Angel win and Yankee loss today would leave the Angels and Yankees with identical 95-67 records, but the Angels would gain home field by virtue of their 6-4 edge in the season series against the Yankees.

The Angels can’t be too disappointed with their draw at this point. They won the season series against Chicago, 6-4, and swept a three-game series in U.S. Cellular Field Sept. 9-11.

They’re also the only team with a winning record (49-48) against the Yankees since 1996, and New York probably won’t use ace Randy Johnson until Game 3, meaning the 6-foot-10 left-hander would start once in the five-game series.

Furthermore, the Angels avoided a first-round matchup against the Red Sox, who swept the Angels in last October’s division series. The Angels have a 4-11 regular-season record in Fenway Park since 2003.

“You have to play well to advance no matter who you play,” said Anderson, who has been slowed by lower-back stiffness in recent weeks, “and if you’re playing well, it really doesn’t matter where you play.”

The Angel rotation, beyond Games 1 and 2 starters Bartolo Colon and John Lackey, seems as unsettled as the playoff picture.

Jarrod Washburn, who was pulled Saturday after two perfect innings, is 8-8 and has the league’s fourth-lowest earned-run average (3.20), but there is no guarantee the left-hander will be one of the Angels’ four playoff starters. Right-handers Paul Byrd and Ervin Santana are also being considered.

There was a long pause when Washburn was asked if he would be upset if he was bumped to the bullpen.

“Yes,” Washburn said, “but I wouldn’t cause any distractions, because that’s the last thing they need going into the playoffs.”

Washburn’s abbreviated start Saturday was by design. The pitcher said he just wanted “a little tuneup where I could face hitters,” and Manager Mike Scioscia said he didn’t want to risk Washburn aggravating the forearm tendinitis that sidelined Washburn for two weeks in September.

Washburn said his arm “feels good” and will not be an issue as the Angels finalize their pitching plans. Washburn made 10 relief appearances in 1998-99, but his only playoff relief pitch was blasted for a division-series clinching home run by Boston’s David Ortiz last October.

“I’m not here to ask questions; I just want to stay ready to get guys out when I’m asked,” Washburn said. “I [relieved] a couple times early in my career. Whether you’re a starter or reliever, it comes down to getting guys out. I didn’t do the job last year, but I know I can do the job.”

The rest of the bullpen is taking shape. It appears right-hander Kevin Gregg has the edge for the final spot over Esteban Yan, who gave up a three-run homer to Alfonso Soriano on Saturday, and left-hander Jason Christiansen, who gave up a run-scoring double to Hank Blalock and has allowed seven of 12 first batters faced to reach base.

But Scot Shields remained sharp, with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, and closer Francisco Rodriguez, after giving up back-to-back triples to start the ninth, got out of a runner-on-third, one-out jam for his 44th save.

Orlando Cabrera and Juan Rivera added home runs for the Angels, and Anderson started in the outfield for the first time since Sept. 20.