ANGELS NOTEBOOK: WEAVER HAS NEW AILMENT.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA 

Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- Something new is ailing Jered Weaver and is threatening to force him out of his already belated start on Wednesday.

Weaver has come down with a strep virus and was sent home before Monday's game began against the Kansas City Royals. Weaver had been dealing with a sore shoulder that caused his start last Friday to get pushed back to this week. Weaver hurt himself in a June 16 game at Dodger Stadium when he slid into second base.

Weaver's illness now means that Joe Saunders will await word on what to do. The left-hander has a flight out of town at 8:30 p.m. today to rejoin the Triple-A Salt Lake team.

Saunders took over Weaver's start Friday and gave up four runs against Pittsburgs, keeping the Angels in the game long enough to put together a late rally for the victory. He has gone 3-0 this season with a 2.97 ERA in five major-league starts, but has been sent back to Salt Lake three times already this season.

Saunders said over the weekend that he has grown weary of shuttling back and forth to Salt Lake but is trying to keep a positive outlook.

"I'm still in limbo, but you always want to get that opportunity to pitch so I'll take whatever I can get right now," said Saunders, who has remained with the team to do his between-start routine with the major- league club.

Typically, Saunders wouldn't be allowed to rejoin the major-league team for 10 days after being sent back down, but that rule is waived for injury or illness. That would mean, though, that Weaver's illness would have to force him to the disabled list, and that isn't likely.

If Weaver can't pitch Wednesday, a more likely replacement scenario might be to have Dustin Moseley absorb the start out of the bullpen.

Back for more: A day after his game-winning hit in the 10th inning, Erick Aybar was rewarded Monday with his first career start in left field.

The lineup surprise actually came about because Gary Matthews Jr. still has a sore left hamstring and was not in the starting lineup for a second consecutive game. Reggie Willits moved to center field and Aybar, a natural middle infielder, got the call in left over Nathan Haynes and Robb Quinlan.

"He has played the outfield a little bit in winter ball here and there," Scioscia said of Aybar. "He's got terrific skills, and although the practice field is not the real litmus test to what a player's going to do, he looks real good out there. He's got the speed to maybe make up for some inexperience so hopefully he'll be able to make the routine plays we need."

Injury update: Casey Kotchman returned to the lineup for the first time in over a week. He suffered a concussion June 16 against the Dodgers. ... Matthews, who felt a twinge in his hamstring Saturday against the Pirates, is expected to return to center field today. He did enter Sunday's game as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning and flew out to left field one batter before Aybar won it.

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ANGELS vs. KANSAS CITY

- Doug Padilla