Rehabbing Hamilton scratched from Salt Lake lineup

ANAHEIM -- Rehabbing outfielder Josh Hamilton was a late scratch from the Triple-A Salt Lake lineup on Friday, due to lingering soreness after being jammed in his last at-bat the previous night.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Hamilton "has a little discomfort" in his surgically repaired left thumb, but added that he's expected to return to the lineup on Saturday and said the ailment is "nothing to worry about."

"Today it felt better," Scioscia said, "but they want to give him one more day to get over it and he's right now scheduled to play tomorrow."

Hamilton went 2-for-4 with a double in his rehab debut with the Salt Lake Bees on Thursday night, but was jammed in the ninth inning while facing hard-throwing Dodgers prospect Jose Dominguez and didn't feel right while taking batting practice the following afternoon.

Hamilton, out since April 8, was hopeful of being activated off the disabled list by Monday's series opener in Seattle, but that appears unlikely at this point.

"We're going to take this one day at a time with Josh and see where he is," Scioscia said.