McDowell Returns and Will Start on Wednesday

Jack McDowell was activated Saturday and, after serving a four-game suspension for his involvement in a brawl June 2, will start for the Angels on Wednesday. Reliever Greg Cadaret was designated for assignment to make room on the roster.

It is the first of three comebacks that the Angels view as essential to winning the American League West. Pitcher Ken Hill (elbow) and first baseman Darin Erstad (hamstring) are also eagerly anticipated.

“Having Jack back is a big lift for us,” Manager Terry Collins said.

“Last year, we picked up Ken Hill [in a trade] and he meant a lot to us te last six weeks. It’s a different situation, but he will mean a lot to us again.”

Hill is still at least one rehabilitation start from returning. Erstad did light workouts Saturday and may be ready by Wednesday, when he’s eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list.

McDowell declared himself fit and ready. He has been sidelined since June 1 because of an elbow injury, which he believed might cost him a second season. McDowell missed almost all of last year after elbow surgery.

“I’m going to take the ball [Wednesday] in a big-league game,” McDowell said. “That’s my job. I’m going to try to win a game.”

McDowell has been building to this moment. At one time, he thought the only way he could come back this season would be as a relief pitcher. But his elbow improved considerably in July and he began working to return as a starter.

“I’ve sat out two years,” McDowell said. “That can last me my career, I suppose. It is tolerable now. I can throw without discomfort.”

McDowell was certain of that after he threw 104 pitches in his last rehab start on Monday.

“We wanted to see how he bounced back from that,” Collins said.

They will try the similar strategy with Hill, who will throw 90 pitches Tuesday in a rehab start for Class-A Lake Elsinore.

*

One reason the Angels haven’t been devastated by the loss of Erstad is Orlando Palmeiro. They might miss Erstad’s run production, but Palmeiro has filled in adequately as a leadoff batter.

“I try to look at a lot of pitches my first time up, so everyone can see what the pitcher will be throwing,” Palmeiro said.

In his last six starts, Palmeiro is eight for 22 with six runs scored and six runs batted in.

*

There was heart-felt respect being handed out Saturday. Not only for Roger Clemens, who struck out 15 batters, but by him.

Commenting on how the Angels have stayed in American League West race, Clemens said, “For being as beat up as they are, they are really grinding it out to stay afloat over there.”

*

Clemens was three strikeouts shy of the most by a pitcher against the Angels. New York Yankee left-hander Ron Guidry struck out 18 Angels in a 1978 game. . . . Infielder Craig Shipley was listed as day-to-day because of a slightly strained right hamstring.

Today

ANGELS’

JEFF JUDEN

(7-11, 5.44 ERA)

vs.

BLUE JAYS’

CHRIS CARPENTER

(7-6, 4.89 ERA)

SkyDome, 10 a.m.

Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Update--The Angels can only hope that Juden is as effective as he was in his debut, when he gave up two runs and struck out nine in 7 1/3 innings. He received a no-decision in a 5-4 Angel victory.