ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SALMON, RIVERA MAY DL.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

MINNEAPOLIS - The Angels appear close to deciding on a disabled-list assignment for either Tim Salmon or Juan Rivera.

Neither has played since last weekend's series at Baltimore and the Angels have been forced into some awkward lineups because of it. It also didn't help that the Angels played a three-game series on the artificial turf at Minnesota and Garret Anderson was reduced to two games as the designated hitter because of his sore left arch.

Maicer Izturis played twogames at third base so Chone Figgins could play left field, and Edgardo Alfonzo played at third Thursday so Figgins could play right. Vladimir Guerrero batted in the designated hitter spot Thursday to get him off the carpet for a day.

Salmon last played Sunday, leaving the game in the fourth inning because of a strained right groin. He was said to be available to pinch hit in the just-completed series against the Twins, but never was used.

Rivera was scratched from the lineup before Monday's game when he suffered a strain in his left rib cage while in the batting cage. Although Rivera was expected to take batting practice at Minnesota, he never picked up a bat.

"Well, you know, we're getting on four days, five days," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think obviously if (Salmon) is not going to be ready in a reasonable amount of time we're going to have to do something, because with both Tim and Juan down it really impacts what we need to do in ballgames."

Howie Kendrick and Kendry Morales are the logical choices to be recalled if somebody goes on the disabled list. Kendrick opened the season at Triple-A Salt Lake on an 11-game hitting streak and was batting .386 (22for57) with two home runs and 13 RBIs through Wednesday's games. Morales was batting .235 through Wednesday with a home run and five RBIs.

--Here's the catch: Jose Molina was back in the lineup Thursday after sitting for three of the previous four games in favor of rookie Jeff Mathis. Coincidently or not, that roster shuffle came immediately after Molina was quoted as saying he wish he knew in what situations and spots he would start.

Molina might be more sensitive to playing time than others. His base pay of $1.25 million next season will increase an additional $100,000 if he catches 65 games and increase $1 million for catching 105games. His 2007 pay would double if he catches 115 games.