Orange County Register

OAKLAND

Howie Kendrick (staph infection, right knee) and Erick Aybar (bruised right hand) are back in the lineup today after getting a couple days off to deal with their minor health issues.

Meanwhile, Maicer Izturis is nursing an injury to the outside of his left knee.

Izturis tangled with Andruw Jones at first base during Wednesday’s game against the Rangers and went down hard. He played the next night and Angels manager Mike Scioscia characterized it as a minor issue, but something the Angels won’t push.

Izturis missed last year’s ALDS against the Red Sox after undergoing surgery for a thumb injury suffered in August.

“He could be a big ‘X’ factor, if you look at it,” Scioscia said. “He was very important to what we were trying to do. Not having him last year was obviously tough. I think he can bring a lot to our lineup.”

Izturis has career-highs in runs scored (75), hits (116), home runs (eight) and RBI (65) this season. Angels second basemen (primarily Izturis and Kendrick) have combined to hit .290 with 15 home runs, 102 RBI, a .339 on-base percentage and .445 slugging percentage.

Today’s lineups:

ANGELS

3B Chone Figgins

RF Bobby Abreu

DH Vladimir Guerrero

LF Juan Rivera

2B Howie Kendrick

SS Erick Aybar

CF Gary Matthews Jr.

1B Robb Quinlan

C  Jeff Mathis

LHP Scott Kazmir

A’S

CF Rajai Davis

1B Daric Barton

2B Mark Ellis

DH Jack Cust

C  Landon Powell

3B Bobby Crosby

RF Matt Carson

LF Eric Patterson

SS Cliff Pennington

LHP Dana Eveland

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