Lackey might have to sit out next start

A rotation that weathered the loss of Bartolo Colon and Jered Weaver for the first three weeks of the season could be put to another test over the next week or two.

John Lackey, the staff ace who has put together an All-Star-caliber first half, has tightness in his throwing shoulder and could be scratched from his next scheduled start Sunday.

Lackey, who underwent extensive treatment Tuesday and was examined by team physician Lewis Yocum during the game, began to experience tightness last Wednesday in Cincinnati, and the shoulder flared up again Monday night, when he gave up six runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings against Houston.

“I should be OK,” said Lackey, who is 10-4 with a 2.96 earned-run average. “The doctor is going to have a few things to look at. I think I’ll be able to make my next start, but it may not be on the day I was supposed to pitch.”

With Thursday’s off day, the Angels could push Lackey’s next start to Tuesday against Kansas City. They could also skip his next start completely, going with a spot starter Tuesday and using off days June 28 and July 2 to further juggle their rotation and give Lackey more rest.

The concern, of course, is that the condition could nag Lackey for weeks or lead to a more serious injury. Lackey’s no-decision Monday was his shortest start of the season. Though his velocity was good, his control, especially on his breaking pitches, was not sharp.

“His command was a little out of whack, his breaking ball wasn’t as crisp as it has been, and he fell behind on some counts,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “But he should be OK.”

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Scioscia stresses the importance of “turning the page,” putting that day’s game behind you so you can focus on the next game, but Chone Figgins admitted he pressed the pause button on that process late Monday night.

The third baseman was six for six in a 10-9 come-from-behind victory over the Astros, hitting a walk-off run-scoring triple in the ninth inning and capping a five-run, score-tying rally in the seventh with a run-scoring infield single.

“I came in here, sat down for a few minutes, really sat back and enjoyed it, because that doesn’t happen too often,” said Figgins, who plans to give his parents the game ball. “But you eventually have to forget about it and come back tomorrow.”

Figgins, who hit for the cycle Sept. 16 at Texas, wasn’t sure whether the six-hit game was his best individual achievement.

“I think I liked the cycle more,” Figgins said. “It’s tough because the cycle came in a loss. The six hits came in a win.”

Figgins, who sat out all but one game in April because of broken bones in his index and middle fingers, was batting .133 when Scioscia gave him May 29-30 off. The switch-hitter has been on a tear since then, going 36 for 74 (.484) to raise his average to .284 before Tuesday.

“He’s a grinder,” Scioscia said. “I thought his offense would come back in pieces, but it’s coming in gushes. He’s got to be the hottest hitter in baseball right now.”

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Casey Kotchman, who hasn’t played since suffering a mild concussion Saturday, continued to improve and was able to join his teammates for stretch. He is shooting for a Friday return.... The Angels have agreed to terms with 19 of the 49 players selected in the recent amateur draft, including fourth-round pick Trevor Pippen, a community college outfielder from Georgia.... Vladimir Guerrero, who leads American League outfielders with more than 1.5 million votes, has all but locked up a starting spot for the All-Star game.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com