No change at the top for Angels

So it should come as no surprise that the Angels manager continues to start Gary Matthews Jr. at the top of the order despite the struggling outfielder's .223 average and .320 on-base percentage.

But with leadoff batter Chone Figgins on the disabled list, wouldn't the Angels be better off, at least temporarily, with Reggie Willits, a spark plug of an outfielder who hit .293 with a .391 on-base percentage in 136 games last season, in the leadoff spot?

Not at the expense of benching a player in his outfield/DH rotation -- Matthews, Garret Anderson, Torii Hunter or Vladimir Guerrero -- Scioscia said.

"We're still trying to get continuity," Scioscia said. "Gary hasn't hit his stride yet, but as far as the bats we need to get going, he's the best option to lead off now without taking somebody out of the lineup. We're not at that point right now."

Since Figgins suffered a hamstring strain on May 3, Willits has started only once, leading off at DH on Sunday at Tampa Bay.

Scioscia said Willits would probably lead off when he plays, but with Figgins out for at least another week, Scioscia has no plans to give Willits a run of games to see if he can set the table better than Matthews, who had a two walks and a single in four plate appearances Tuesday night.

"When Gary gets it going, he usually keeps it going for a long time, and we want to let that play out," Scioscia said. "Right now, we don't want to take some guys who are real important to us out of the lineup to fill what we feel is a short-term need at leadoff."

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Despite pitching effectively for the most part, reliever Darren O'Day, who went 0-1 with a 3.43 earned-run average in 16 games, was sent to triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday to clear room for infielder Maicer Izturis, who was activated from the DL.

The Angels demoted infielder Kendry Morales to make room for John Lackey, who will make his 2008 debut tonight.

"I was a little surprised, but I understand why it happened," said O'Day, who made the jump from double A to the big leagues. "Lackey is coming back, and someone had to go down. [Scioscia] said I did a good job, but we agreed I'm not a finished product."