Kazmir scratched from start

The Angels cleared more room on the shelf for another starting pitcher when Scott Kazmir was scratched from Thursday’s exhibition game against Texas because of tightness in his throwing shoulder.

Much like Ervin Santana, who was scratched from Tuesday’s game because of an inflamed bursa sac in his throwing elbow, the Angels went to great lengths to downplay Kazmir’s injury.

“If this was September, he’d be taking the mound,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “But there’s absolutely no advantage of pushing through this right now.”

Kazmir, who threw 62 pitches in his last start Saturday and was scheduled for 75 pitches Thursday, began feeling weakness and discomfort in the deltoid muscle “a couple of days ago,” but the left-hander came to Tempe Diablo Stadium on Thursday expecting to pitch.

Trainers detected the tightness and advised Kazmir against playing, but the injury was not deemed serious enough to warrant an MRI test.

“It’s not a cause for concern,” said Kazmir, who was slowed earlier in camp by a hamstring injury and has made only two exhibition starts. “It’s not like anything is hurt.”

Kazmir hopes to throw an aggressive bullpen workout this weekend and start Tuesday against Milwaukee. If he throws 75 pitches against the Brewers, he’ll have one more start April 4 in a camp game in Arizona to get to the 90-pitch mark and be ready to open the season with the Angels.

On the defensive

Mike Napoli leads the Cactus League with five home runs, but another statistic could impact his early-season playing time: Opponents have been successful on all 12 stolen-base attempts against the Angels’ catcher this spring.

Napoli’s defensive struggles, which he said are the result of rhythm and timing issues, not injury, are beginning to weigh on him.

“I just need to get out and play and stop worrying about all the mechanical junk during games,” Napoli said. “I can think about that stuff during practice.”

Defense is the top priority for Scioscia’s catchers, and if Napoli continues to struggle, Jeff Mathis could get more playing time behind the plate, especially against speedy teams such as the Seattle Mariners.

“I’m not worried about it,” Napoli said. “I can’t go out with the mind-set of, ‘Oh, if I don’t do well here, I’m not going to play.’ I’m going to play hard and help my team.”

Short hops

Santana threw about 45 pitches in a bullpen workout Thursday and is on track to return to the rotation Sunday against Cleveland. . . . Hideki Matsui, who played four innings in left field Monday, is scheduled to play about six innings in the outfield Friday against San Francisco.

mike.digiovanna@

latimes.com

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Angels 9

Texas 6

AT THE PLATE: The Angels rallied for four runs in a sixth inning that featured Hideki Matsui’s double and run-scoring doubles by Kendry Morales and Howie Kendrick.

ON THE MOUND: Closer Brian Fuentes gave up one hit and struck out one in a scoreless fifth inning. Long reliever Brian Stokes gave up one run and two hits in two innings.

EXTRA BASES: Mathis had an excellent day behind the plate.

UP NEXT: Jered Weaver, the expected opening-day starter, will oppose San Francisco ace T im Lincecum in Friday’s 1 p.m. game at Scottsdale, Ariz.

ON THE AIR: Radio: 830.

-- Mike DiGiovanna