Angels hope for the best on Erick Aybar’s knee injury

The Angels are keeping their fingers crossed that shortstop Erick Aybar did not seriously injure his left knee when Casey McGehee of the Milwaukee Brewers slid into him Monday. The Angels sent Aybar for an MRI examination Tuesday, hoping his recovery time might be measured in days instead of weeks.

“We’re optimistic he’ll be back,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “The time frame will be determined by the results of the exam. Hopefully, it will be something minor, and we’ll talk about when we can get him back in the lineup.”

Maicer Izturis started at shortstop Tuesday, although his injury history might make him an unlikely long-term replacement. The Angels recalled Brandon Wood and started him at third base, but Scioscia pointed out Wood also can play shortstop.

With catcher Jeff Mathis expected to be activated Friday, the Angels can play Mike Napoli at first base and rotate shortstop and third base among Izturis, Wood and Kevin Frandsen.

Scioscia also reiterated there was nothing dirty in McGehee’s slide, although the opinion in the clubhouse was divided and fans booed McGehee when he batted Tuesday. Frandsen, playing first base for the first time in his major league career, made a wide throw that forced Aybar to extend his right leg as he lunged for the ball, all the while trying to keep his left leg on the base.

“That was an awkward throw that put Erick in a compromising position,” Scioscia said. “It was more our own issue than any kind of a slide.”

With Wood out of options and the trade deadline approaching, this could represent his last chance to impress the Angels.

“I don’t know if it’s a last chance. I certainly don’t feel that way,” Wood said. “I know I can play. I just went through a rough patch.”

Wood hit .156 in 39 games with the Angels, then .196 in 13 games at triple-A Salt Lake. He did hit .308 in his last seven games there, and he said he appreciated the chance to work with Salt Lake hitting coach Jim Eppard.

“He’s seen my swing more than anybody in the organization,” Wood said.

“It was good to get some swings in without the pressure of hurting the big club.”

Hunter: Never again

Torii Hunter was fairly disgusted with himself after leaping above the fence for McGehee’s home run Monday, getting his glove on the ball — and then watching helplessly as the ball squirted off his glove and over the wall. The replay was all over highlight shows, not that the nine-time Gold Glove winner had any interest in watching.

“In my whole professional career — minors and majors, 18 years — nothing like that has ever happened,” Hunter said. “And I’ve hit the wall plenty of times.

“That will not happen for another 18 years. I refuse to let it happen.”

Angel homecoming

Jim Edmonds started in center field for the Brewers, his first appearance in Anaheim since Oct. 3, 1999. The Angels beat the Texas Rangers that day, 1-0, behind an infield of Mo Vaughn at first base, Trent Durrington at second base, Andy Sheets at shortstop and Troy Glaus at third base.

The Angels traded Edmonds to the St. Louis Cardinals the next spring. He played for the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs in 2008 and did not play last season.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com