Lackey Steps Up Against the Elite

John Lackey opposed Cy Young Award winners Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz in his previous two starts, and Saturday he started opposite Florida left-hander Dontrelle Willis, the leading candidate to start the All-Star game for the National League.

The Angel right-hander did not earn a victory in any of the games, but had three draws, which was almost as good. The Angels won all three of Lackey’s no-decisions, 4-2 over the Atlanta Braves on June 6, 4-3 over the New York Mets last Sunday and 2-1 over Florida on Saturday, in which Lackey gave up one run and six hits and struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings.

“He’s at a level where he wants people to say it’s a bad draw because we’re facing Lackey today,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He doesn’t let pitching against guys like Smoltz, Pedro and Willis affect what he does.”

Since his shoddy start, when he was 1-1 with an 8.22 earned-run average in his first three games, Lackey is 4-1 with a 2.82 ERA in his last 11 starts. The key has been Lackey’s ability to avoid big innings, which he did again Saturday.

After giving up three singles, including Carlos Delgado’s run-scoring hit, to open the sixth inning, Lackey struck out Mike Lowell with a curveball, got Paul Lo Duca to fly to right, and after walking Jeff Conine, Lackey got Juan Encarnacion to pop to first with the bases loaded, ending the inning.

“It’s not frustrating,” Lackey said of his recent no-decisions. “You’re going against big-time, front-line starters. For the team to win, you must be doing something right.”

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Paul Byrd, scheduled to start today against the Marlins, was scratched because of tightness in his right triceps. Ervin Santana will start today on a regular four days’ rest, and Byrd was pushed back to Monday against Texas.

“It’s more of a precautionary thing,” said Byrd, who sat out the 2003 season because of reconstructive elbow surgery.

“If I was hurting on the inside of the elbow, I’d be concerned, but it’s in a totally different place.”

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Even if it’s as a pinch-runner or a late-inning defensive replacement, Florida reserve catcher Matt Treanor would relish the opportunity to play in Angel Stadium today.

The former Santa Ana Mater Dei High standout, who spent 10 years in the minor leagues before his first taste of the big leagues last season, grew up a huge Angel fan -- he attended Game 5 of the 1986 American League championship series against Boston -- and when he was 17, he sold souvenirs and programs in the stadium.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing here,” Treanor, 29, said.

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Kelvim Escobar, on the disabled list because of a bone spur in his right elbow, threw the first of what he said would be several “nice and easy” bullpen sessions Friday. Escobar, who is not expected back until around the All-Star break, said his arm feels good, “but I haven’t thrown hard yet.” ... Right-hander Jered Weaver, the former Long Beach State ace who was the Angels’ first-round pick in the amateur draft in 2004, is scheduled to make his professional debut for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Monday night at Lake Elsinore.