Escobar Will Try Again

Kelvim Escobar threw a 35-pitch, two-inning simulated game Friday, and the Angel right-hander is tentatively scheduled to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

But if the pain and inflammation caused by the bone spur in his elbow return for a third time, Escobar said he would undergo surgery to shave the spur, a procedure that would knock him out for at least two months and possibly the rest of the season.

“It’s a tough decision, but it’s already [flared up] twice in six weeks,” said Escobar, who is 2-2 with a 3.54 earned run average in seven starts. “If it happens again, there’s nothing else I can do but shave it down and get rid of it.”

Escobar opened the season on the disabled list because of a shoulder problem and has been sidelined twice since May 12 because of the bone spur. He made only one minor league rehab start before returning in late May, but this time, he’ll probably make three or four starts at Salt Lake.

“I want to get to a point where I can throw 100 pitches in a game,” said Escobar, who will throw 40-50 pitches in his first start at Salt Lake. “I want to come back and pitch well and not have to worry about any pitch limit.”

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Angel shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who could “barely lift” his arm Monday, was back in the starting lineup Friday night after sitting out three games because of an inflamed elbow.

“I think there’s still something there, but I threw [Friday] and it didn’t feel like I was limited,” said Cabrera, who hasn’t missed a game because of injury since 2003. “I needed to rest for a few days.... But it did bother me seeing other people play for me.”

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Dodger outfielder J.D. Drew reported “substantial progress” in his sore left knee but said he would not rush his return just to risk missing another week.

“That stabbing pain when my foot hits the ground isn’t near as sharp as it was two days ago,” said Drew, who sat out a third consecutive game because of loose cartilage and a bone bruise. “Two days from now, who’s to say that with all the treatment we’re doing, that the stabbing pain doesn’t go away all together?”

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The Dodgers recalled Cody Ross from triple-A Las Vegas and optioned left-hander Derek Thompson to Las Vegas. Ross started in right field.