Angels: Morning spring training update

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels play the A’s today, with the Angels fielding the closest thing to a regular lineup they have offered this spring. Jered Weaver, expected to line up behind John Lackey and Joe Saunders in the season-opening series against Oakland, gets today’s start.

Ervin Santana, trying to rehabilitate a partially torn ligament in his right elbow, has started a throwing program. The Angels expect him to start the season on the disabled list, and Manager Mike Scioscia said he did not anticipate Santana’s recovering fast enough to return to the mound by the time the Angels break camp April 1.

‘We’re not going to know [his timetable] until he is a couple weeks into his throwing and we see where he is,’ Scioscia said.

Gary Matthews Jr. makes his spring debut today, starting in right field. Juan Rivera plays left.

The Angels enter play today as the major league leaders this spring in batting average (.311), on-base percentage (.399) and earned-run average (3.03).

Today’s lineup:

Chone Figgins, 3B

Howie Kendrick, 2B

Torii Hunter, CF

Kendry Morales, 1B

Juan Rivera, LF

Gary Matthews Jr., RF

Mike Napoli, DH

Bobby Wilson, C

Erick Aybar, SS

Jered Weaver, P

-- Bill Shaikin