Offense is ahead of pace

NEW YORK —  Sunday’s 12-0 loss to the New York Yankees notwithstanding, the Angels enter the All-Star break in better shape than they did last season, a development that, combined with the potential return of Juan Rivera in August, might mitigate the need for a trade to bolster the offense.

“The holes we had last year were a little wider on the offensive end, and adding a big bat was a very real need,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We do have more depth, which makes us more resilient to some non-production, some guys being out of the lineup, but it’s not to the point where you sit back and say it’s on auto pilot.”

The Angels were 43-45 and two games out of first place at the break last season; they are 53-35 and in first place in the American League West this season, 2 1/2 games ahead of Seattle, their most wins at the break since the 1979 team was 55-38.

The Angels ranked 12th in batting (.260), 11th in runs (407), 13th in on-base percentage (.320) and 13th in slugging percentage (.408) at the break last season. They rank second in average (.284), fifth in runs (437), fifth in on-base percentage (.340) and ninth in slugging percentage (.413) this season.

There are concerns: The league seems to have caught up with leadoff batter Reggie Willits, who has two hits in his last 23 at-bats, his average falling from .337 to .312. No. 2 batter Chone Figgins has cooled since his 53-hit June, with five hits in 31 at-bats this month, and first baseman Casey Kotchman is in a three-for-40 slump since returning June 25 from a concussion.

But the offense could receive a huge boost in August if Rivera, who hit .310 with 23 home runs and 85 runs batted in last season, returns from a broken leg.

“It’s not like anyone has a crystal ball and can see if he’ll get healthy, get in baseball shape and be as productive as he was before,” Scioscia said. “But if he does, maybe that’s the depth we acquire.”

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Kelvim Escobar will start the first game after the break, against Texas on Friday night, and will be followed in the rotation by Jered Weaver, John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Bartolo Colon.

Scioscia pushed Colon to the back of the rotation so he would have extra time to iron out mechanical problems with pitching coach Mike Butcher.

Since opening with a 5-0 record and 3.69 earned-run average in six starts, Colon is 1-4 with a 9.07 ERA in eight starts since, giving up 41 earned runs and 68 hits, including 11 homers, in 40 2/3 innings.

“I think he can get some productive work in,” Scioscia said. “It will give him a chance to get that command he needs, to work on a couple things off-speed, and just hopefully find a little more consistency.”

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Reliever Chris Resop left Sunday’s game because of an elbow irritation after facing three batters in the fourth inning. He was initially diagnosed with tendinitis, which is not believed to be serious, and will be examined today by team physician Lewis Yocum.... Howie Kendrick’s bruised left index finger was a little sore after the Angels’ 13-inning victory Saturday, in which he scored the winning run and made several fine defensive plays, and he did not play Sunday.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com