ANGELS NOTEBOOK: MCDOWELL GETS READY TO START.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

Pitcher Jack McDowell is expected to be activated from the disabled list this week in time to make his first start of the season Friday in Baltimore against the Orioles.

McDowell, who had surgery on his right shoulder Feb. 2, has made three rehab starts, the last one coming last Thursday for Single-A Lake Elsinore. He gave up seven runs and 11 hits in 7-1/3 innings but pitched the last few innings throwing nothing but fastballs to build up arm strength.

If McDowell starts Friday, he would replace Mike Fyhrie in the starting rotation.

Pitcher Tim Belcher (broken pinky finger on right hand) threw in the bullpen Tuesday but isn't expected back until early August.

Outfielder Matt Luke (strained muscle in side) will begin taking batting practice in the next few days and said he expects to join the club in Tampa during the three-game series against the Devil Rays July 26-28.

Hill country: Manager Terry Collins' first order of business Tuesday morning was to check on pitcher Ken Hill. Hill threw six scoreless innings Monday night after being out since June 30 with an inflamed right elbow.

``He's happy, he feels fine today,'' Collins said. ``We probably did the right thing getting him out at the right time. We were going to hold him to a pitch count of 90 and he was just six away from that after the sixth.''

Hill, who is scheduled to make his next start Saturday in Baltimore, said the arthritis and inflammation in the elbow will always be an issue for him.

``It's something I'm going to have to deal with the rest of my life, not only in the game,'' Hill said. ``Playing golf, playing with my kids. . . . When I'm healthy, I feel confident. When I feel good, I can pitch against anybody.''

Off key? The Angels begin a two-game series against the first-place Rangers tonight and Collins is singing a different tune. Normally, Collins says no game or series is any more important than any other. However. . .

``They're bigger than normal right now,'' he said. ``I know we've got them at the end of the year (a three-game, season-ending series), but these are big because we have a chance to pick up two games. And right now, that's hard to do.''

Odds and ends: Tony Gwynn's sixth-inning double was career hit No. 2,983 for the Padres right fielder. . . . Since returning to the lineup Saturday, Tim Salmon is 1 for 14 with four walks and one RBI. . . . With Salmon hitting behind him in the past four games, Mo Vaughn is 3 for 14 with four walks and two RBI.

ANGELS vs. TEXAS

Time: 5:35 p.m., at The Ballpark in Arlington.

TV/Radio: FSW; KLAC-AM (570), XPRS-AM (1090 Spanish).

Matchup: The Angels begin a two-game series against the Rangers and are making it clear that they need to win both. ``You play the Rangers in April or May and it's not a big series,'' manager Terry Collins said. ``But now it's big.'' The Angels beat the Rangers in three of four games in Texas in April before being swept in three games in Anaheim last month. Omar Olivares (8-7, 3.26 ERA) will start for Anaheim today against Texas' Aaron Sele (8-6, 5.45). Thursday: Steve Sparks (4-6, 5.17) goes for the Angels against John Burkett (2-4, 5.71).

- Joe Haakenson

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

Photo: (1) COLLINS

(2) HILL

Box: ANGELS vs. TEXAS (See text)