Kelvim Escobar sidelined by calf injury for a few days

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- Kelvim Escobar’s left calf injury appears to be a little more serious than the right-hander originally thought.

Escobar, who says he is “way, way, way ahead of schedule” in his return from shoulder surgery, limped into the Angels’ clubhouse this morning and winced in pain several times during an interview.

On Sunday, Escobar thought he had suffered cramps while doing agility drills. On Monday, he was pretty sure he had a strain, and is being held out of workouts to get treatment.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to do anything,” said Escobar, who went 18-7 with a 3.40 earned run average in 2007. “It’s sore. I’ll have to take a couple of days off, but it won’t be a serious setback because I’m still six or seven weeks ahead of schedule.”

Escobar, who missed the entire 2008 season, was expected to return around the All-Star break, but he is already throwing off a mound and is now projected to return sometime in May.

-- Mike DiGiovanna