Kendrick goes on DL

A team starved for offense lost another of its top hitters Wednesday when second baseman Howie Kendrick, who was batting .327, went on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken bone in his left hand.

Kendrick, hit by a Chad Gaudin fastball in the seventh inning Tuesday night, returned to Southern California on Wednesday for an MRI test and CT scan, which revealed a non-displaced fracture at the base of his middle finger.

No timetable was given for his return, but Kendrick, whose hand was not placed in a cast, is expected to be out at least a month to six weeks.

The Angels will make a roster move either today or Friday.

The most likely candidate for recall is top prospect Brandon Wood, a third baseman who is batting .293 with three homers and 11 runs batted in at triple-A Salt Lake.

Erick Aybar, who started in Kendrick’s place Wednesday, could remain at second, or the Angels could move third baseman Maicer Izturis to second, use Robb Quinlan at third and call up a hitter such as Kendry Morales, Terry Evans or Nick Gorneault to take Quinlan’s bench spot.

Chone Figgins, on the DL because of broken bones in two fingers on his right hand, could be activated as early as late next week, and the Angels could use him at third and Izturis at second.

Right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, knocked out of Monday’s game when he was hit on the right wrist by a Josh Beckett fastball, also returned to Southern California on Wednesday to be examined by Dr. Norman Zemel, a hand specialist.

An MRI test and CT scan confirmed the original diagnosis of a contusion, and Guerrero, who has missed two games, could return Friday against Seattle.

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The Angels are struggling offensively again, a recurring theme since 2005, and you know what that means -- fans have fired up the Fire Mickey Hatcher campaign a little earlier than usual.

“I expect it,” Hatcher said before Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to the A’s, which completed an abysmal 1-7 trip. “My job as a hitting coach is to get these guys turned around, and that’s what I’m going to do.

“It’s been tough, but it’s not like I haven’t gone through this over the last seven years. I just wish I had some answers for it. These guys are working their tails off, pulling for each other. We’ve got to get in there and start competing. I’m in awe like everybody else, that we’re hitting like this.”

The knock on the Angels has been that they’re too aggressive, they swing too often, too hard and too early in the count, but Hatcher isn’t sure the Angels are aggressive enough.

Asked if he’s stressing working counts and being more selective, Hatcher said, “More selective? You see how many pitches we take for strikes? Everybody says we’re too aggressive. We take a lot of strikes. We’re 0-2 a lot of times. That’s the frustrating part. That’s why Mike [Scioscia] is saying we’re giving too many at-bats away. We’ve got to be ready to compete, and when you get your pitch, be ready to hit it.”

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Kelvim Escobar, on the DL because of a shoulder irritation, threw 40 pitches off a bullpen mound Wednesday and said he felt fine. The right-hander remains on course to return next Wednesday night against Tampa Bay.... Scioscia, the Angels’ manager, will miss at least one, and perhaps two, games against the New York Yankees on May 25-26 to attend his son’s graduation ceremonies at Crespi High.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com