Angels pitcher Scott Kazmir scratched because of shoulder injury

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Scott Kazmir was scratched from Thursday’s scheduled exhibition start against Texas because of tightness and fatigue in the back of his throwing shoulder, an injury that could impact the Angels left-hander’s availability in the first week of the regular season.

Kazmir, slowed earlier in camp because of a hamstring injury, was scheduled to throw 75 pitches against the Rangers. If he is able to make his next start Tuesday against Milwaukee, Kazmir would have only one more start -- in a camp game on April 4, a day before the April 5 season opener against Minnesota -- to get to the 90-pitch level that Manager Mike Scioscia believes is required to be ready for the season.

‘We don’t expect it to impact the regular season,’ Scioscia said. ‘He felt good coming out of his last start, and this is something that flared up [Wednesday]. It’s one of those things where if this was September, he’d be taking the mound, but there’s absolutely no advantage of pushing him through this right now.’

Kazmir is not scheduled to undergo an MRI test. Right-hander Sean O’Sullivan will replace Kazmir on Thursday against the Rangers.

The Angels lineup:

SS Erick Aybar

RF Bobby Abreu

CF Torii Hunter

DH Hideki Matsui

1B Kendry Morales

LF Juan Rivera

2B Howie Kendrick

3B Maicer Izturis

C Jeff Mathis

P Sean O’Sullivan

-- Mike DiGiovanna in Tempe, Ariz.