Blanton won't make next scheduled start

BALTIMORE -- Joe Blanton won't start in his next scheduled turn through the rotation this weekend, but on Wednesday Angels manager Mike Scioscia stopped short of saying Blanton would be skipped when announcing his rotation order for the upcoming Yankees series.

"It'll just push him back a couple days with the off-day," Scioscia said, "then we'll see where the other guys fold in."

After Thursday's off-day, the Angels will go with C.J. Wilson on Friday, Tommy Hanson on Saturday and Jered Weaver on Sunday in a three-game home series against New York. Blanton, 1-10 with a 5.87 ERA, would've lined up to start Sunday, but now his next turn is up in the air.

Between the off-days and Saturday's doubleheader, all of the starting pitchers will be on extended rest. Wilson and Weaver will each have five days off between starts, while Hanson will have six. It seems likely that Tuesday starter Jason Vargas would start Monday's series opener against the Mariners on five days' rest. After him, it could be Blanton, or it could be Jerome Williams, who started Wednesday's series finale against the Orioles because the Angels needed a sixth starter one time through the order.

When Blanton faced the Red Sox on Sunday, he was coming off three consecutive quality starts, posting a 2.95 ERA and walking none in 21 1/3 innings. Then he gave up seven runs (six earned) in five-plus innings, and now he leads the Majors in losses and hits allowed (111).

"Joe's game comes down to more than just throwing strikes -- having command," Scioscia said. "I know that's one area he's focusing on."