Reggie Willits

It would have been one thing if Scott Kazmir had been sidelined in the midst of a good season or one in which his team was in first place. Making the Angels pitcher's nearly month-long layoff all the more agonizing, however, is that it has come in the wake of a four-start stretch in which he went 0-4 with a 13.73 earned-run average. In his last start before going on the disabled list with shoulder fatigue, the left-hander gave up a franchise-worst 13 runs against Oakland. So Kazmir said he was "very eager" to pitch Saturday against Detroit at Comerica Park, his return to the rotation finally confirmed by Manager Mike Scioscia on Friday night after the Angels' 4-2 victory over the Tigers.

With the potential tying run on second base and one out in the ninth inning Sunday, Mike Scioscia turned to his bench. The Angels' manager wanted a pinch-hitter for catcher Jeff Mathis , who was hitless in his first three at-bats, but the players at Scioscia's disposal might have seemed more like last resorts than enticing options. There was Cory Aldridge , who had one major league hit in 14 professional seasons; Bobby Wilson , who was batting .200 against right-handed pitchers; and Brandon Wood , whose season-long slump had only deepened amid a two-for-20 slide.

Reporting from Chicago — Mike Scioscia held Hideki Matsui and Bobby Abreu out of his lineup amid deepening slumps. It only seemed as if the rest of the Angels batters took the day off. The Angels' offense bottomed out Thursday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field during a 1-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox, managing two hits and three baserunners against a pitcher who entered the game with a .500 record. John Danks stifled the Angels during a complete-game shutout, striking out seven and walking none as the White Sox completed a four-game sweep.

The Angels put sore-armed shortstop Maicer Izturis on the disabled list Saturday because of shoulder inflammation but they may not have a clear idea how long he'll be there until they return home Monday. "Preliminary reports are that it's going to take a little bit of time to calm down," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "He just needs to take a step back right now." Izturis, who is hitting .256 in 39 at-bats, aggravated his right shoulder diving for a ball last week.

Reporting from Toronto -- There is something about pitching with the game on the line that brings out the best in Fernando Rodney . And there is something about pitching in low-impact situations that brings out the worst in the Angels reliever. Over the last two seasons, Rodney has a 2.59 earned-run average in save situations, giving up 12 earned runs in 41 2/3 innings. In non-save situations, the hard-throwing right-hander has a 6.69 ERA, giving up 29 earned runs in 39 innings.

Jered Weaver has not officially been named the opening-day starter, but the right-hander looked worthy of the assignment Wednesday, pitching five scoreless innings and allowing one hit with nine strikeouts and no walks in the Angels' 11-0 exhibition victory over the Chicago Cubs. Weaver has been in line to start the opener since Cactus League play began in early March, but Manager Mike Scioscia still wouldn't commit to Weaver for Monday night's game against the Minnesota Twins at Angel Stadium.

Bobby Wilson has done virtually everything he set out to do with the Angels this spring. "I've shown them I can catch, throw and be a defensive presence behind the plate," the 26-year-old catcher said. "I think I've swung the bat pretty well too." All of which guarantees Wilson nothing. As good as Wilson has looked — he's hitting .320 in 16 games and threw out Adam Stern trying to steal second base in the ninth inning of the Angels' 1-1 exhibition tie with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, Wilson has no idea whom he will be employed by come Monday.

Mike Scioscia cut off a reporter Friday before the question could be completed, the Angels' manager instantly disagreeing with the premise that Brandon Wood is more relaxed because he knows the third-base job is his. "I don't think Brandon knows the job is his — that wouldn't be best for Brandon right now," Scioscia said. "He needs to compete in spring training, show us the things we know he can do, bring his game onto the field and earn a position and playing time."

The Angels avoided arbitration with four players Tuesday, agreeing to one-year contracts with pitcher Jered Weaver, catcher Mike Napoli, infielder Howie Kendrick and outfielder Reggie Willits. Weaver got the richest deal of the group and will be paid $4.265 million this season with an opportunity to earn more through award bonuses. He was paid $465,000 last season when he was 16-8 with a 3.75 earned-run average, throwing four complete games, including two shutouts. Napoli, who played in a career-high 114 games last year, hitting 20 home runs and driving in a career-high 56 runs, agreed to a $3.6-million deal that could grow by an additional $100,000 if he starts 120 games.

The Cleveland Indians have received permission from the Angels to speak to bench coach Ron Roenicke about their managerial job, which opened when the team fired Eric Wedge in the final week of the regular season. It was unclear Thursday when Roenicke, who has spent 10 seasons with the Angels under Manager Mike Scioscia , six as a third base coach and the last four as the bench coach, would interview for the position, or if he has already been interviewed. Angels General Manager Tony Reagins would neither confirm nor deny the Indians' interest.