Orange County Register

ANAHEIM

The Angels appear to have made their choice for Thursday’s fill-in starter — Triple-A right-hander Matt Palmer.

Palmer did not make his scheduled start for Salt Lake Tuesday night. Reliever Francisco Rodriguez made the start instead, going three innings.

Palmer, 30, is 1-1 with an 11.74 ERA in two starts at Triple-A this season. His most recent start was Thursday against the Las Vegas 51s. He went six innings, allowed four runs on four hits and a walk and got the win.

But Palmer has something the other “in-house” candidates don’t have — big-league experience. He made three starts for the San Francisco Giants last season.

* August 16 at Atlanta — six runs allowed on seven hits, four walks and a hit batter in 2 1/3 innings (Giants lost 11-5)

* August 21 vs. Florida — two runs on six hits and three walks in six innings (Giants won 4-3 but Palmer didn’t get the decision)

* August 26 vs. Colorado — five runs (four earned) on four hits and six walks and another hit batter in 4 1/3 innings (Giants lost 7-2)

So his major-league totals — 0-2, 8.53 ERA, 2.37 WHIP (thanks to 17 hits and 13 walks in 12 1/3 innings).

The Giants were so impressed by the results that he was not re-signed following the season. The Angels signed him as a minor-league free agent.

If Palmer is the man tomorrow, the Angels will have to do some roster shuffling. He is not on their 40-man.

Meanwhile, you can probably scratch top prospect Jordan Walden from the list of possibilities for Saturday’s start. He went seven innings for Double-A Arkansas Tuesday. The good news, though? He didn’t allow a run.

Sean O’Sullivan? Come on down, you’re the next contestant on ….

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