Colon May Get a Little Less Rest

Bartolo Colon says he and his somewhat balky back have no issues with possibly pitching on three days’ rest the final two weeks of the season.

“I’m ready for anything,” Colon said in Spanish on Sunday.

With 13 games remaining in the regular season, Manager Mike Scioscia said, “There are two or three scenarios we’re looking at; some are going to be contingent on how guys come out of their starts. Bart’s starting Tuesday and we’ll go from there.”

If Colon (19-7), who is aiming to become the Angels’ first 20-game winner since Nolan Ryan in 1974, goes on three days’ rest, the Cy Young Award candidate would follow Tuesday’s start against Texas by facing Tampa Bay on Saturday, the Athletics at Oakland on Sept. 28 and the Rangers at Texas in the season finale Oct. 2.

Or, Colon could start Game 1 of an American League division series if the Angels have already qualified for the postseason.

“That’s the decision of the manager,” Colon said.

And what of Colon’s back, which threatened a recent start?

“It’s good, thankfully,” he said.

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Jarrod Washburn (left forearm tendinitis) said he felt no ill effects Sunday from playing catch the night before but had no immediate word on when he’ll pitch again.

Scioscia said he hoped to have Washburn “back in the rotation next week sometime.”

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Any questions about Ervin Santana’s stamina for the stretch run were answered by Santana himself Saturday night.

Just ask him.

“I’m not tired; I’m ready to go when my turn comes up again,” said Santana, who limited Detroit to four hits and one run in eight innings. “Some people will say I am but I think I proved that I’m not. I’m ready to play and prove it to my team and to myself.”

Before Saturday night, when he allowed only four hits in eight innings to beat Detroit, 3-1, Santana, 22, had lost three of his previous four decisions, leading many to wonder if the right-hander had indeed hit the rookie wall.

Santana, who began the year at double-A Arkansas, had never pitched more than 147 innings in a season or made more than 27 appearances.

This year, he has started a combined 30 games and pitched 173 1/3 innings with Arkansas, triple-A Salt Lake and the Angels.

He initially was called up from Arkansas on May 17, was optioned to Salt Lake 11 days later and then was recalled by the Angels on June 14.

Santana’s spot in the rotation comes up Thursday, though with Washburn’s status uncertain, and the possibility of Colon’s being used on shortened rest, the Angels have yet to announce that day’s starter.

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Chuck Obremski, who served as chaplain for the Angels and the Mighty Ducks, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. Angel starter Paul Byrd raised his arms overhead to form an “O” in tribute when he left the game in the seventh inning.

“I dedicate this game to him,” Byrd said. “Chapel wasn’t for everyone, but for those that came, he made it special.”