Anderson goes out of comfort zone, bats fifth

Garret Anderson prefers to bat third. He is most comfortable batting fourth, after hitting behind Vladimir Guerrero for most of the last three seasons.

But he batted fifth Monday, in the Angels’ 8-7 loss to the Oakland Athletics, and Manager Mike Scioscia said he might use Monday’s lineup against left-handers all season. Guerrero batted third and Shea Hillenbrand fourth.

Anderson said Scioscia has not spoken with him about moving down in the lineup.

“He doesn’t necessarily have to,” Anderson said.

Anderson, the Angels’ all-time leader in hits and runs batted in, said he would be more comfortable batting fourth every day.

“You become a creature of habit,” he said. “You get in the flow of the game when you’re in the same place every day. But it’s not going to affect me, where I hit.”

Scioscia said “it could help” to have a right-handed hitter behind Guerrero against left-handers, although the career statistics of Hillenbrand and the left-handed Anderson are similar. Hillenbrand hits .299 against left-handers, with a home run every 33.4 at-bats, Anderson .291 with a home run every 33.5 at-bats.

“Garret is going to have to hit lefties whether he’s hitting fourth or fifth,” Scioscia said. “When Garret is healthy, he hits anybody. That’s what we’re anticipating.”

Scioscia said he has not made a final decision. And Anderson pointed out that Scioscia often juggles the batting order after the season starts.

“He’s not one to Xerox the lineup and put it out every day,” Anderson said.

Matthews update

After an initial review, lawyers advising the Angels have indicated the team probably would not have grounds to void the contract of outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. even if prosecutors can prove he received an illegal shipment of human growth hormone.

In the absence of a criminal conviction, the Angels probably could not void the contract, even if they would want to do so, according to two highly placed baseball sources. The Angels signed Matthews to a five-year, $50-million deal in November.

David Soares, the New York district attorney leading the inquiry into allegations of criminal sales of controlled substances, has said it focuses on distributors, not consumers.

If no charges are filed against any alleged recipients, Matthews would not be at risk of conviction. Investigators found documents linking Matthews to a 2004 shipment of HGH for which a prescription was written in Florida, filled in Alabama and shipped to the Texas address of a former minor league teammate, SI.com reported.

Around the horn

Ervin Santana pitched three shutout innings, but the A’s scored eight runs off four Angels relievers, none of whom are likely to make the club.... Kendry Morales, fighting Casey Kotchman for the first base job, has five hits in 10 at-bats.... Bartolo Colon will throw off a mound for the first time today as he rehabilitates his shoulder injury. Scioscia said he could rejoin the rotation as early as the end of April.... John Lackey, who had strep throat, is set to make his exhibition debut Thursday.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com