Haren says he’ll start Saturday for Angels

ANAHEIM, CALIF. (AP) - Newly acquired Angels pitcher Dan Haren expects to make his next start as scheduled despite a bruised forearm.

The three-time All-Star plans to make his second start for Los Angeles on Saturday against the AL West-leading Texas Rangers. The right-hander was acquired Sunday in a trade that sent lefty Joe Saunders and three minor league prospects to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He was drilled on his pitching arm by a line drive off the bat of Boston’s Kevin Youkilis in the fifth inning of his Angels debut on Monday night. X-rays were negative.

“As of now, barring any setbacks, I should be good to go,” Haren said Wednesday. “It’s obviously still bruised and a little tight, but I don’t see it being a problem. I’m staying on top of it and getting treatment before, during and after the games. And I’m doing my best to be out there. My arm feels great. I only threw 62 pitches Monday, so I feel real fresh, so I’ll have plenty in the tank on Saturday.”

Haren returned to the clubhouse Wednesday morning after spending a day in Arizona to pick up some personal belongings at his home and get in a workout at the team’s Tempe training facility.

“I didn’t know if there would be any restrictions or anything, so I was a little cautious at first. But I was able to pretty much just let it go,” Haren said. “I threw all of my pitches, and by the end, I had no restrictions. So I’m definitely encouraged.”

Manager Mike Scioscia shared Haren’s optimism. But he had very little choice with a rotation already showing signs of cracks. Scott Kazmir is on the disabled list with shoulder fatigue. Joel Pineiro was a last-minute scratch before Wednesday’s matinee against the Red Sox due to an oblique strain while he was warming up, and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

“We’ll look at Dan again the next couple of days and make sure he’s still progressing,” Scioscia said. “But it looks like he had no problem manipulating the ball and making all his pitches. So he should be good to go on Saturday.”

The eight-year veteran has made 190 consecutive starts without missing a turn since 2005.

“It’s scary. You don’t really even have time to react,” he said. “It’s just kind of instinct. I kind of moved my arm up into the ball. I’ve had some close ones, but that was about as hard as I’ve ever been hit. I’ve gotten hit below the waist quite a few times, but never above. It got me good. Someone said the bat might have been broken _ but it didn’t feel like it.”

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