McDowell on Disabled List

Jack McDowell was put on the 15-day disabled list Thursday because of continuing inflammation in his right elbow. The move was retroactive to Monday, the day after McDowell had left after pitching three innings against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Infielder Craig Shipley was activated from the 15-day disabled list to take McDowell’s spot on the roster.

McDowell, who missed most of last season while recuperating from surgery on the same elbow, will miss at least two starts. Omar Olivares will start in his place tonight.

“Jack played catch [Thursday] and he still felt some discomfort,” Manager Terry Collins said. “We wanted to look at the big picture here, if missing two starts helps us get 25 out of him.”

It is the third time in the last three seasons that McDowell has been on the disabled list. His longest stint was last year, when he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his elbow on May 20 and missed the rest of the season.

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Closer Troy Percival will undergo an MRI on his right elbow today, as aprecaution, according to Collins.

Percival, who has seven saves, had a tender elbow a week ago. He saved three games in three days this week, but struggled in his last appearance at Baltimore on Tuesday.

Collins gave him the last two days off.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Chicago White Sox, four games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7 p.m.

* TV--KCAL, Channel 9, tonight; Fox Sports West, Saturday and Monday; ESPN, Sunday.

* Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 15-11, White Sox 10-15.

* Record vs. White Sox--(1997) 6-5.

* Tickets--(714) 634-2000

ANGELS’ OMAR OLIVARES (1-0, 3.09 ERA)

vs.

WHITE SOX’S JAMES BALDWIN (2-2, 7.11 ERA)

* Update--The Angels signed Omar Olivares to be their fifth starter, then sent him to the bullpen after picking up Jack McDowell in February. Collins isn’t expecting brilliance from Olivares, just five innings. “We need to get seven innings to get to Mike James, Mike Holtz, Rich DeLucia and Troy Percival,” Collins said. “Whether it comes from one guy or two.” Olivares pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief and picked up the victory Sunday. His last victory as a starter was July 23 last season, when he beat Cleveland for the Seattle Mariners.

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Chuck Finley (4-0, 1.54) vs. Mike Sirotka (4-1, 3.60)

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Jason Dickson (1-3, 8.24) vs. Jason Bere (0-3, 5.54)

* Monday, 7 p.m.--Allen Watson (1-3, 7.57) vs. Jamie Navarro (2-3, 5.25).