ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ERSTAD INJURY APPEARS SERIOUS.

Byline: Jim Barrero

First baseman Darin Erstad's availability for the remainder of the regular season remained in limbo Friday.

After suffering a second-degree strain of his left hamstring running out a single in Cleveland on Wednesday, Erstad underwent an MRI and was examined on Thursday by Dr. Lewis Yocum.

No decision was made on Erstad's status, except that he will continue to rehabilitate the leg.

Angels manager Terry Collins said another evaluation would be done in 7-10 days and that Erstad would not go on the disabled list since there is plenty of room on the expanded roster.

``It will be that long before they can make another diagnosis on this,'' Collins said of the waiting period. ``Are we going to be counting on him over the next two weeks? No.''

Erstad came off the disabled list from the same injury on Aug. 19 after having played every game this season, but Collins said this time it seems worse.

``This is worse than Darin's previous injury,'' Collins said. ``It was the same type of injury, but more intense. He's hurt bad.''

Angels officials said Erstad spent the day in treatment and was not available for comment.

``We're hurting without him,'' said Gregg Jefferies, who could see some action at first in Erstad's absence. ``Hopefully he's OK. We'll just have to pick up the slack.''

O'Brien starts: It took more than a month, but catcher Charlie O'Brien finally made his first start for the Angels since being acquired July 31 in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.

O'Brien made his debut with the team in the final game of the recent road trip, coming on in the eighth inning at Cleveland.

``We need to see him and get him in there,'' Collins said.

O'Brien, who threw out Dean Palmer trying to steal in the second inning and Larry Sutton in the third, was activated from the 15-day disabled list Sept. 1 after recovering from a fractured right thumb while he was with the Chicago White Sox.

Four-man rotation: Because the Angels had an off day Thursday and two more next week, Collins said the team will go with a four-man pitching rotation until further notice.

Hill, Chuck Finley, Jack McDowell and Steve Sparks will fill the spots.

Lots of options: Although the Angels have suffered more injuries than a division-leading team would like, one thing Collins can't complain about is depth.

Even with the most recent injury to Erstad, the team still can turn to Chris Pritchett, Jefferies or even Craig Shipley, who was activated from the disabled list Friday, to replace him at first.

``It seems like I got about 50 players,'' Collins said. ``I've got all the depth I need.''

In the bullpen, left-hander Allen Watson, who was a starter, adds another solid arm to take away some of the pressure from any tired bodies.

Watson recorded his first victory in relief this season against the Yankees on Aug. 25.

``I don't expect him to like (the new role), but he's accepted it and knows he's part of the puzzle,'' Collins said. ``He'll do what we ask him to do in order to win.

ANGELS vs. KANSAS CITY

Time: 7:05 p.m. at Edison Field.

TV/Radio: No TV; KRLA-AM (1110), XPRS-AM (1090 Spanish)

Matchups: The Angels' Jack McDowell (3-3, 4.45) opposes the Royals' Brian Barber (2-1, 6.00). On the recent 10-game trip to the east, the Angels batted .309 with eight home runs and 65 RBI, averaging 6.5 runs and 11.7 hits per game. Barber is making his fourth start since being recalled from Triple-A Omaha. Recently, Barber took a no-hitter into the seventh at Baltimore before it was broken up by Cal Ripken with two outs.

- Jim Barrero

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Box: ANGELS vs. KANSAS CITY (See Text)