ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ESCOBAR A FLEXIBLE OPTION.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Kelvim Escobar might be the Angels' best pitcher at this point, and the pleasant problem they face is how to best use him. For now, manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Bud Black agree that using Escobar out of the bullpen is their best option, and he's proved valuable.

He got the victory Friday night with three scoreless innings, pitching the 10th, 11th and 12th innings. In four relief outings since he returned to the active roster following arthroscopic elbow surgery, Escobar has a 1.86 ERA with nine strikeouts, giving up six hits and two walks in 9 2/3 innings.

But the Angels have not ruled out using Escobar as a starter down the stretch. He threw 83 pitches in his final rehab start on Sept. 2, and Black said he could be stretched out to 80 pitches, provided Escobar gets enough rest beforehand.

``He's been doing what we hoped he would do,'' Black said. ``He's pitching with games in the balance, and he's able to go one inning to three innings, and he has more innings in him.''

Escobar said he's comfortable in any role the Angels use him, and would be ready to make a start if called upon.

``I feel good,'' Escobar said. ``I'm using all my pitches and doing what I'm capable of doing.''

--A rotating rotation: Whether Escobar gets a start down the stretch, the Angels are considering a number of options regarding their rotation.

``Everything from the next series on is in pencil,'' Scioscia said. ``There are a lot of scenarios we're looking at.''

Scioscia did say that Bartolo Colon will start Tuesday and John Lackey on Wednesday. After that, the Angels will determine where to fold Jarrod Washburn back into the rotation and when to bring back either Colon or Lackey, or both, on three days rest.

--Short breaks for Colon, possibly: As long as his back holds up, Colon could be used on three days rest the remainder of the season. That would get him potentially four more starts this season, including one against the A's on Sept. 28 and one against the Rangers on Oct. 2, the final day of the regular season.

Colon (19-7) is trying to become the Angels' first 20-game winner since Nolan Ryan in 1974, and their first Cy Young Award winner since Dean Chance in 1964.