ANGELS NOTEBOOK: COMEBACK COMPLETE FOR MIRACLE MERCKER.

Byline: Gordon Verrell Staff Writer

Left-hander Kent Mercker's return to the mound tonight to start for the Angels is nothing short of a miracle, manager Mike Scioscia said Friday.

``You bet it's a big deal,'' Scioscia said. ``After what happened, it's miraculous.''

Mercker was stricken with a life-threatening cerebral hemorrhage while pitching against the Texas Rangers May 11 at Edison Field. Three months later, he's back.

``There's no denying we have a need,'' said Scioscia, whose starting pitching of late has nearly reached the point that anyone healthy enough to make it to the mound can take a turn. ``But that certainly is not the primary reason Kent is starting. We didn't make the move just because we had a need. Our first concern was his health. The last thing we were worrying about was if he'd pitch again this season, next season, any season. . . .

``Kent was very efficient with his pitches in his last rehab start, well enough to carry into a major-league game. Our thought is that even if he gives us just four or five innings it still has to catapult him into a better position.''

``Realistically, he'll be in the 85- or 95-pitch range, possibly 100,'' Scioscia added. ``If he's efficient with his pitches, that'll give us a solid six innings.''

Mercker appeared in 12 games, including two starts, before he was stricken. He takes an 0-1 record and 5.16 ERA into tonight's game.

--Too much stress: After extensive tests, it was discovered that Angels left-handed starter Jarrod Washburn's sore shoulder is the result of a stress fracture.

Dr. Lewis Yocum said Washburn can return to the rotation as soon as the pain subsides but declined to pinpoint a date.

--Odds and ends: Disabled right-hander Tim Belcher threw in the bullpen Friday and, according to Scioscia, ``threw extremely well.'' Belcher is on the DL for the second time this season because of his right flexor muscle, operated on in December. . . . Angels reliever Al Levine (tendinitis, right elbow) will likely come off the DL Tuesday, the first day he's eligible to return. Closer Troy Percival (tendinitis, right elbow) is another matter. He hasn't so much as picked up a ball since he was disabled Aug. 5, Scioscia said. . . .