Kendrick hopes for good X-rays

If X-rays on Howie Kendrick’s left index finger Friday show that the small fracture he suffered in early July has healed, the second baseman could begin a minor league rehabilitation next week and rejoin the Angels for their next homestand Aug. 20.

If X-rays show the fracture needs more time to heal, pity the doctor who breaks the news to Kendrick.

“It’s been a few weeks now, and I’m driving myself crazy,” said Kendrick, who was batting .297 when he went on the disabled list for the second time this season. “I had never broken a bone in my body before this year, and I’ve broken two this season. You wonder what else could happen.”

Kendrick, who sat out six weeks from mid-April to late May because of a broken bone on the back of his left hand, began playing catch and taking ground balls Monday, but he won’t swing a bat until his X-ray results come back. He has been running and lifting weights.

“He’s in good shape, so it shouldn’t take long for him to get ready for rehabilitation games,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Once he starts playing, we’ll see how his finger holds up.”

Juan Rivera, sidelined the entire season because of a broken leg suffered in a Venezuelan winter-league game, is running at nearly full speed in Arizona, but only in a straight line.

The reason Rivera has not been able to start a rehabilitation assignment is he is having trouble making turns on the basepaths and breaking for balls in the outfield. If he is unable to play in minor league games by the last week of August, Rivera’s chances of returning this season will be remote.

“He’s making progress, but the medical department doesn’t feel he’s where he needs to be to play in games,” Scioscia said. “Every day that goes by works against us. He needs to play, and he’s not healthy enough to start a rehab assignment.”

Even more encouraging than Ervin Santana’s pitching line in a triple-A game Monday -- seven innings, two earned runs, 10 strikeouts -- were the reports on the right-hander, who was 5-11 with a 6.22 earned-run average when he was demoted July 18.

“His command was good, he changed speeds well and pitched a good game,” Scioscia said.

Good enough to be considered for a recall? Not so fast.

“Right now, we want his progress to continue,” Scioscia said. “When we feel he’s ready to come here and meet the challenge, we’ll look at it.”

With preliminary schedules for 2008 expected to be released to teams Aug. 15, the Angels still haven’t received any notification from Major League Baseball about opening the season in Japan, leading team officials to believe they are not being considered for such a series.

Reggie Willits suffered cuts inside his lip and on his nose during batting practice when a ball he fouled off the plate struck him in the face. The outfielder was escorted off the field by two athletic trainers but was able to start at designated hitter.

“I was dazed for a second, but I’ll be fine,” Willits said. “It was just a bad swing. You’ve got to be talented to do something like that.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com