ANGELS NOTEBOOK: LACKEY: I WASN'T THAT ILL.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA 

Staff Writer

SEATTLE -- As it turns out, that whole drama about John Lackey rising from his death bed Monday to defeat the Seattle Mariners was slightly over-exaggerated.

Yes, Lackey did have strep-throat symptoms that had subsided somewhat Tuesday.

But he wasn't necessarily battling through fatigue and aches and pains like it was represented immediately after his shutout over the Mariners.

Lackey did not speak to reporters Monday night, with his quotes relayed through an Angels representative. So he had some corrections Tuesday. He said the illness certainly wasn't making him weaker as the game dragged on.

"Yeah, I saw that," Lackey said in a hoarse whisper. "I didn't say the weak part, though. That's just fact."

What also is a fact is that Lackey continues to look strong despite already being worn down from a long season, strep throat or not.

"I've got way more issues than my throat right now," he said.

Such as?

"It's almost September, man," Lackey said. "If you make every start something's going to hurt. Nobody's full strength this time of the year."

After being called a big-game pitcher by his teammates, Lackey returned the compliment.

"It starts with the team first of all," he said. "You have to be on a good enough team to be in big games. I've been fortunate to be in a good enough organization and have a good chance to win every year. I've had a manager that had confidence to put me in those games and give me the opportunity. I try to go out there and make him look good."

Kotchman could start today: Casey Kotchman, who was hit on the left hand by a pitch from the Yankees' Mariano Rivera last week, was available as both a late-inning defensive replacement and a pinch hitter Tuesday. There is a chance he could start in today's series finale.

Rivera threw a cut fastball in last Wednesday's game that bore in on Kotchman's hands. He actually was in the midst of a full swing when the ball hit his hand. He suffered bleeding under his left thumbnail that required the nail to be drilled to release the blood. The impact also caused a sprained left middle finger.

Rivera close to return: Juan Rivera is on track to return to the Angels on Saturday when rosters expand. Rivera, who has not played in the major leagues all season after suffering a broken leg in winter ball, is batting .231 with three doubles and sevenRBIs in 10 games.

With the Triple-A Salt Lake team headed to the playoffs, there aren't expected to be that many reinforcements sent Saturday. Brandon Wood might join the Angels if Chone Figgins still can't play by this weekend because of a sprained left wrist.

Figgins ailing: Figgins was again available as a late-inning defensive replacement Tuesday, but has yet to take batting practice. Figgins sprained his left wrist swinging at a pitch from New York Yankees left-hander Ron Villone last week.