Weaver gets good news on injured hip

ANAHEIM -- Tests done on Jered Weaver's injured left hip came back negative for any tears or structural damage, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Monday. Weaver was placed on the 15-day disabled list with left hip inflammation on Sunday.

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"Weave had some tests, and preliminary reports from our guys are that everything is functional. There's no structural things that are there," Scioscia said. "He won't pick up a ball for five days, and then we'll just try to see where he is and move forward from there."

Scioscia said he's hoping Weaver's hip issue is minor and that the veteran right-hander would soon be healthy and back to form.

"I have a lot of confidence that we're gonna see him get better as we move forward, but right now there's no doubt about just trying to exhale a little bit and get him back where he needs to be," Scioscia said.

Scioscia didn't want to put a timetable on Weaver's return, but the veteran could potentially return shortly after the All-Star break. Because of the break and off-days, he could miss as few as two starts. The Angels would need a fifth starter on June 30 and July 11, and then Weaver could return as late as July 21.

To fill those slots, the Angels could have "bullpen days," like they did when Garrett Richards' turns came around last September. In that case, Cory Rasmus -- currently pitching in rehab games as he returns from a core injury -- could start once he's stretched out. But Rasmus would likely only be able to pitch three to five innings, Scioscia said, and the Angels might also need to adjust their roster to add pitching depth if they went the staff day route.

The Angels could also call up a starter from Triple-A, such as top prospect Andrew Heaney, Adam Wilk, Drew Rucinski, Alex Sanabia or Nick Tropeano.

Worth noting

• Outfielder Collin Cowgill, on the DL with a right wrist injury, will start swinging a bat on Wednesday, Scioscia said. Cowgill has been working out but not taking swings.

• Erick Aybar, who has been batting in the second third of the order behind Mike Trout and Albert Pujols after spending much of the season leading off, will likely remain in his current spot, Scioscia said.

The Angels also plan to keep Trout and Pujols batting third and fourth -- where they were recently moved from the second and third spots in the order -- for the remainder of the season, barring "personnel changes" that necessitate an adjustment.