Appier Goes on 15-Day Disabled List

The return of Adam Kennedy from a strained right hamstring on Tuesday was tempered by news that the Angels had put Kevin Appier on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Sunday, with a strained muscle in his right forearm.

The right-hander is expected to miss at least his next two starts, leaving the Angels in search of immediate help as they continue to await the return of Aaron Sele from off-season shoulder surgery. Sele made his first rehabilitation start for triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, giving up four hits and one run over four innings while striking out four.

Sele is scheduled to make his next rehab start Sunday and could rejoin the Angels next week, but the Angels can’t wait that long. Jarrod Washburn is expected to take Appier’s turn in the rotation Friday, but the Angels still have not decided who will start Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. The leading candidates are relievers Scot Shields or Scott Schoeneweis or minor leaguer Chris Bootcheck.

Appier, 35, said he felt pain in his forearm a couple of weeks before exacerbating the injury Saturday against Seattle but doesn’t expect it to keep him out more than 15 days. He experienced a similar injury while pitching for Oakland in 2000.

“You hate to miss time,” said Appier, 1-2 with a 7.36 earned-run average this season. “[But] you run into a point where if you keep pressing it, you could be out for a long time.”

There was some good news for Appier on Tuesday in that an MRI revealed no tear in his elbow ligament, which would have been a worst-case scenario.

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Kennedy was in the lineup Tuesday for the first time since April 2, when he collided with Tim Salmon while chasing a fly ball and later went on the 15-day disabled list.

To make room for Kennedy on the 25-man roster, the Angels sent Chone Figgins back to Salt Lake.

“It happens,” said Figgins, who hit .294 with four runs scored and two runs batted in for the Angels. “I just have to be happy with my performance and go down there and see what happens again.”

The Angels also recalled Jeff DaVanon from Salt Lake to provide depth in the outfield, as center fielder Darin Erstad sat out a second consecutive game because of a swollen tendon in his lower right hamstring.

Erstad continues to receive heat and ice massages on the affected area but said he has no idea how quickly he will be able to return. He has been told a couple of days or a couple of weeks.