Angels ace Jered Weaver returns home to have shoulder examined

OAKLAND -- Angels ace Jered Weaver returned to Southern California on Wednesday to have his bruised right shoulder examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum, a development that will likely prevent the right-hander from pitching this weekend against the Detroit Tigers.

Weaver, who is 16-4 with a 2.86 earned run average, was injured Sunday in Seattle when he took a Dustin Ackley line drive off his right shoulder.

“Let’s just wait and see,” Manager Mike Scioscia said, when asked if Weaver has been ruled out for Friday night. “We have time to make a decision.”

With Thursday’s off day, the Angels can start Ervin Santana, C.J. Wilson and Zack Greinke on regular rest against the Tigers and Dan Haren Monday night against Oakland. Weaver’s spot in the rotation wouldn’t come up until Tuesday.

If Weaver is not ready, right-hander Jerome Williams or Barry Enright, who was called up from triple-A Tuesday after going 5-1 with a 2.73 ERA in eight starts for Salt Lake, could pitch. Enright was acquired from Arizona in July.

Scioscia hoped to maximize his use of Weaver in the final month by keeping the right-hander on regular rest despite three off days in September.

That would have enabled Weaver to start against the wild card-contending Tigers on Friday, the opener of a three-game series against division-leading Texas at home on Sept. 18, the opener of a three-game series against the Rangers in Texas on Sept. 28 and the regular-season finale in Seattle on Oct. 3.

Those plans likely will have to be scrapped.

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