Lackey figures into opening day

TUCSON — Mike Scioscia is hesitant to name an opening-day starter this early in March because he doesn’t want those who are passed up for the prestigious assignment to think of themselves as No. 2 or 3 starters.

But it was no coincidence that John Lackey, who lost eight pounds while battling strep throat last weekend, was slotted into the rotation Thursday.

With a sparkling performance in his first spring start, a three-inning, 44-pitch effort in which he gave up one unearned run, two hits, struck out five and walked none in a 10-7 exhibition loss to Arizona, Lackey, if he remains on regular rest, is in line to start the April 2 opener against Texas.

“I didn’t notice that,” Lackey said, his chuckle exposing his fib. The right-hander did the math. He knows he’s going to start opening day.

“If it does happen, it’s going to be an honor, a game you want to pitch well in to prove you deserve that kind of thing,” Lackey said. “We have a good staff. To get the ball first would be pretty cool.”

When Jarrod Washburn hurt his shoulder in spring 2003, Lackey started the opener, “but that was kind of by default,” he said.

Although Bartolo Colon is recovering from a rotator-cuff tear, an opening-day start for Lackey would hardly be by default. He earned it, going 14-5 with a 3.44 earned-run average in the 2005 season and 13-11 with a 3.56 ERA in 2006, establishing himself as an ace.

“He’s able to get the strikeout when he needs to, he has endurance, he’s an incredible competitor,” Scioscia said. “He’s been the lead dog at times ... but we need five guys like that to reach our goal.”

Lackey showed excellent command, locating his fastball early in counts and putting several hitters away with his breaking pitch.

He said his arm felt great despite an illness that flattened him last weekend.

“I haven’t been that sick in years,” Lackey said. “I couldn’t drive to the doctor. I couldn’t swallow anything, I was throwing up, I’d be hot for an hour, freezing for an hour, I couldn’t sleep ... it stunk.”

Late bloomer

Jered Weaver will throw off a mound today for the first time this spring, an encouraging development but one that’s probably too late for him to be ready to open the season.

Scioscia said Weaver would need three bullpen workouts and two or three batting-practice sessions before pitching in a game, a process that will take about two weeks.

Weaver probably won’t make his exhibition debut until March 21 or 22. He would need four or five starts to build up to 90 pitches, a process that would take him through the first week of the season.

Weaver probably will remain in Arizona when the Angels break camp, and Hector Carrasco probably will start April 6 against Oakland. The Angels would hope to fold Weaver into the rotation April 11.

“April 6 ... we’re going to look at that very closely,” Scioscia said. “If he’s not ready then, he should be ready by April 11. There are no shortcuts. It’s going to hinge on how his arm feels and how he responds to his bullpen workouts.”

Around the horn

Howie Kendrick had two hits, including a home run, and is seven for 15. He also made an outstanding play at second base, back-handing Dee Brown’s third-inning grounder on the outfield grass and making a long throw to first.... Chris Resop didn’t boost his chances of winning the final bullpen spot -- the right-hander gave up six runs and five hits, including Robby Hammock’s three-run homer, in one inning.

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