Jered Weaver’s next start for Angels expected to be pushed back

OAKLAND — Jered Weaver was in no mood to discuss his bruised right shoulder on Tuesday, and Manager Mike Scioscia said “nothing has changed” since Monday, when the Angels were in a wait-and-see mode concerning Weaver’s next start.

But it is appearing more and more likely that Weaver, who took a hard Dustin Ackley line drive to the shoulder in the fifth inning of Sunday’s game in Seattle, will not pitch against the Detroit Tigers this weekend and will be pushed back to next week.

Scioscia had hoped to maximize the use of his ace in the final month of the season by keeping the right-hander on regular rest despite three off days in September.

That would have enabled Weaver to start against the wild card-contending Tigers on Friday night, the opener of a three-game series against division-leading Texas at home on Sept. 18, the opener of a three-game series against the Rangers in Texas on Sept. 28 and the regular-season finale in Seattle on Oct. 3.

If the Angels clinch a wild-card spot by the last game of the season, Scioscia would have been able to hold back Weaver, who is 16-4 with a 2.86 earned-run average, to start the one-game wild-card playoff.

But those plans will have to be rearranged. Weaver hadn’t thrown as of Tuesday, and Scioscia said he “wasn’t sure” when Weaver would throw again. Ervin Santana, C.J. Wilson and Zack Greinke are expected to start, all on regular rest, against the Tigers this weekend.

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