The Angels do not open the playoffs for another 12 days, but they already are concerned about how to configure an injury-depleted starting rotation for postseason use.
On Friday, hours after Manager Mike Scioscia revealed the Angels might use Jered Weaver on short rest in the first round of the playoffs, Hector Santiago went out and showed why.
Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs are out for the season. Matt Shoemaker has a strained oblique but believes he can be ready for the playoffs. If he is not, Santiago would be in line to start Game 3 of the division series.
That would be the same Santiago who got three outs in his start on Friday, who got six outs in his previous start, and whose earned-run average in September is 9.69. Santiago faced 10 batters and gave up seven runs Friday night, and the Texas Rangers piled on from there in a 12-3 rout of the Angels.
The Angels remained 21/2 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the race for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Weaver said he was worried about finishing the regular season strong, not about whether he might pitch on short rest in October.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “I haven’t thought about it one bit.”
The Angels currently have three healthy starters — Weaver, C.J. Wilson and Santiago. Scioscia said he would consider using three starters in the first round even if Shoemaker is healthy.
“It’s always something you consider in a shorter series,” Scioscia said.
The Dodgers made that move with ace Clayton Kershaw in last year’s National League division series. Kershaw won the NLDS clincher against the Atlanta Braves, then lost both of his NL Championship Series starts against the St. Louis Cardinals, by scores of 1-0 and 9-0.
The Dodgers were no more comfortable with Ricky Nolasco as a fourth playoff starter than the Angels appear to be with Santiago now. The Dodgers skipped Nolasco in the NLDS, then limited him to one start — and four innings — in the NLCS.
Weaver has pitched on three days’ rest twice in his career, and not in the last three years. On Aug. 28, 2011, he gave up seven runs in six innings to the Rangers. On Sept. 18 of that year, he gave up two runs in six innings to the Orioles.
After the Angels clinched the American League West on Wednesday, they adjusted their rotation so Weaver would line up for Game 1 of the division series. As a result, he will make his final two starts of the regular season and his first playoff start on extra rest. However, Scioscia said he did not know if that would help should Weaver start a playoff game on short rest.
“I don’t know if you can bank rest,” Scioscia said.
The race for home-field advantage is not as dramatic as it might sound. The Angels already have the home-field edge in the first round. If they advance to the World Series, they would have the advantage there too, since the AL won the All-Star game.
If the Angels play any team other than Baltimore in the ALCS, they already have home-field advantage there too. So the question, really: How hard do the Angels want to push to secure Game 7 at home in the event they play the Orioles in the ALCS?
“It’s important,” Scioscia said, “but it’s not more important than the guys feeling well, being productive and staying healthy.”
Still, with three days off between the end of the regular season and the start of the ALDS, Scioscia will play his regulars for most of next week. The Angels have the best home record in the majors (51-28), and Weaver and third baseman David Freese each want that home-field edge.
Freese said it would be “absolutely huge” to start — and, if necessary, finish — the series in Anaheim.
“I think it’s very important,” Weaver said. “The comfort of playing in front of your own fans and in your own stadium would be key for any team.”
Follow Bill Shaikin on Twitter @BillShaikin
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