Oliver’s work is a big deal

With one more appearance this season, reliever Darren Oliver will hit the jackpot. The Angels could be big winners too.

Oliver threw a scoreless ninth inning Saturday, his 59th appearance. If he reaches 60 games, Oliver’s $2-million option for 2008 will vest, assuring the 36-year-old left-hander will return to Anaheim next season.

Of course, Oliver, being so wrapped up in the pennant race, had no idea he was nearing the 60-game threshold, right?

“C’mon, you think I’m that dumb?” Oliver said with a chuckle. “I’m only human. I’m the one who signed the contract. I don’t think about it when I’m out there pitching. It’s only when my agent calls and says, ‘You know. . .’ ”

As important as quantity has been for Oliver, it’s the quality of his work over the past four months that has been so rewarding.

Oliver had a 7.98 earned-run average in 19 games through May 31, but he ironed out a mechanical flaw in his delivery and has been the Angels’ most consistent reliever since, giving up 10 earned runs in 48 innings in his last 40 games for a 1.88 ERA. He has not yielded a run in 13 1/3 innings in 10 games this month.

“You always want to earn whatever you get -- you have to earn your pay, like everybody else in the world,” Oliver said. “That makes it better.”

Oliver credits pitching coach Mike Butcher with helping him rebound from his early-season slump.

“He had a little hitch in his leg kick,” Butcher said. “He smoothed it out, kept his head on line, and the rest has followed. He struggled early on, but being a veteran guy, he’s been through some things. He knew how to bounce back.”

Oliver is not a left-handed relief specialist, but on a team that has gone years without a decent lefty in the bullpen, he has easily been the Angels’ most effective left-handed reliever since Scott Schoeneweis in 2002.

“He can go long, he can go short, he can clean up an inning. . . he’s been valuable for our club in a lot of ways,” Butcher said. “He’s provided veteran leadership, he keeps guys relaxed, focused. He means a lot to our bullpen right now.”

Though Bartolo Colon showed decent stuff in Chicago on Sept. 14, he needed 99 pitches to get through 4 2/3 innings, giving up five runs -- three earned -- and eight hits. Saturday, the right-hander needed only 90 pitches to get through eight innings, giving up three runs and eight hits.

“Command made the difference,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “The ball looked great coming out of his hand in Chicago, but he threw a lot of pitches to get to almost five innings. Today he was pitch-efficient. . . in the zone, with good movement and changing speeds. When he needed the 94-mph fastball, it was there. That’s a terrific effort, a great game.”

Center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. returned to the lineup for the first time since spraining his right ankle Sept. 11 and went hitless in two at-bats, walking twice.

Scioscia said Vladimir Guerrero, relegated to designated hitter since suffering an elbow injury on Sept. 6, will try to throw again this week in Texas, but it still seems doubtful the slugger will return to the outfield for the start of the playoffs.

“He’ll do whatever he feels comfortable doing,” Scioscia said. “It could come quickly, or it might not come.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com