MESA, ARIZ. — Just what the Angels need, another potential problem with a starting pitcher.
Manager Mike Scioscia said he was "disappointed with some of the reports" from Joe Saunders' minor league start Monday and that the left-hander may be experiencing a little dead-arm phase.
Saunders, who gave up five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings, also could have been fatigued from a weekend bout with food poisoning.
"He got his work in, and his stuff picked up a bit as the game went on, but he wasn't as crisp," Scioscia said. "He could have a little spring-training arm. It could be from the food poisoning."
With John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar opening the season on the disabled list and Jered Weaver not ready to open at the front of the rotation, Saunders is expected to start Monday night's season opener against Oakland.
To better align him for that game -- and to give him a little extra rest -- Saunders will not start another exhibition. Instead, he will throw what Scioscia called a "power pen," an extensive and aggressive bullpen workout, later this week.
The rest of the rotation is also shaping up. Based on this week's assignments, it appears Saunders will be followed by Dustin Moseley, Shane Loux, Weaver and Nick Adenhart.
Loux will start a minor league game today with a target of 100 pitches. Moseley will start Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, and Weaver and Adenhart will remain in Arizona to pitch in minor league games Saturday and Sunday.
Escobar, well ahead of schedule in his recovery from shoulder surgery, will start Friday night against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, with a target of 50 pitches.
"I'm excited to be facing big league hitters," said Escobar, who missed all of 2008. "It's been a while."
Santana, out since early March because of an elbow ligament sprain, has extended his long-toss program to 180 feet and could begin throwing off a mound by next week.
Lackey, shut down on March 23 because of a forearm strain, expects to begin throwing Thursday or Friday.
Scioscia says there is a "strong possibility" that all three injured starters could return to the rotation by May 1.
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Trade winds calm
General Manager Tony Reagins met privately Tuesday morning with Gary Matthews Jr., but a trade of the unhappy outfielder is not imminent.
