BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT

Manager Marcel Lachemann has made a determined effort to give his starters more days off this season. He was widely criticized late last season for overworking his regulars, often keeping them in games that had turned into routs.

He doesn’t want a repeat in 1996.

Right fielder Tim Salmon, who had a career-best 12-game hitting streak going into Friday, is the lone Angel to play all 72 games this year. But Lachemann replaced Salmon, who was 0 for 2, with Orlando Palmeiro in the seventh inning Friday. Salmon sat out only one of 145 games last year.

First baseman J.T. Snow played all but two in ‘95, but has started 66 of 72 this year. Shortstop Gary DiSarcina played 91 games in ’95 (sitting out 41 because of a torn thumb ligament), but has started 65 this year.

Certainly, it has helped that the Angels have more depth this season, which allows Lachemann to use his bench more often.

“It’s that [giving the starters more rest], but it’s also important to keep the other people involved [such as Rex Hudler and Damion Easley],” Lachemann said. “We’ve had considerably more injuries this year and that’s thinned our depth out quite a bit.

“You’re in pretty good shape if you have 11 players without any drop-off. Plus, depth helps when you rest people or have injuries. Obviously, injuries are a key factor in baseball.”

The Angels have tied a club record by putting 16 players on the disabled list this year.

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Catcher Don Slaught’s back wasn’t as sore as after Thursday’s game, but Pat Borders started in his place Friday. Lachemann said Slaught was available if needed. . . . Lachemann still hasn’t decided on a starter for the second game of Monday’s doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. . . . The Angels are 28-1 when leading after seven innings and 31-1 when leading after eight. . . . Milwaukee catcher Mike Matheny on Friday served the second game of his three-game suspension for his part in the Brewers’ rumble with Cleveland May 31. It hasn’t been all bad for Matheny. He caught two trout and two Coho salmon during Bob Uecker’s charity fishing tournament on Lake Michigan. . . . Bill Schroeder, now a commentator on Brewer telecasts, caught Jim Abbott’s first major league game with the Angels in 1989.