Orange County Register

John Lackey -- 1 ER in past 26 IP

Two years ago – his most recent full season – John Lackey needed a cortisone shot in his shoulder just before the Angels’ first-round playoff series, soreness in that shoulder having plagued him towards the end of his 224-inning season (a career-high workload).

This season, Lackey got a late start after spending the first five weeks of the season on the disabled list with a strained forearm. Could that injury have been a blessing in disguise, allowing Lackey to enter the playoffs closer to full strength after a shorter season and lighter workload?

“No. I don’t see any positives in John missing six weeks,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Thursday, pointing out the absence of Lackey and Ervin Santana early in the year left the Angels with “a lot of talent we had to replace” for approximately 20 lost starts.

“Our challenge is ahead of us, to get into the playoffs. We’re not looking ahead to say this guy is going to be fresher going into the playoffs.”

But Lackey has allowed one earned run in 26 innings over his past three starts after shutting out the Mariners Thursday. He disagreed with Scioscia, admitting that he does see an advantage in going into the post-season with fewer innings under his belt.

“Same as last year (when he also opened the season on the DL) and I probably threw the best I’ve thrown in the playoffs in my career,” said Lackey who allowed four runs on 11 hits in 13 2/3 innings over two starts against the Red Sox in the ALDS last fall. “So, yeah.”

Even Scioscia had to admit it the Angels’ current rotation would be the strongest group the Angels have taken into the playoffs in his 10 years as manager.

“Where they are right now, this is the best rotation we’ve had and that’s saying something when you’re talking about the way Bartolo Colon was throwing the ball in ’05, having (Kelvim) Escobar and John Lackey,” Scioscia said. “Where guys are right now, this is the deepest rotation we’ve had.”

Where “guys are right now” has produced a 1.42 ERA from starters in the past 12 games. Lackey agreed, saying this starting rotation was “without a doubt” better than the group he joined in mid-season and won a World Series with in 2002 — and “Wash would tell you that” (nominal 2002 ace Jarrod Washburn).

“We for sure have a better pitching staff, starting-wise,” Lackey said. “That was more of a bullpen-offense based team. As a starter, Sosh really just wanted us to go six (innings) and get out of there.”

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