ANAHEIM -- Tim Salmon saw the Angels' lineup card for Monday night's game against the Oakland A's, saw that his name wasn't on it, and admitted he was surprised -- not in a good way.
Ten minutes later, he was in manager Mike Scioscia's office for what both described as a productive discussion that lasted about 25 minutes.
Salmon, who has only been a designated hitter this year, was out from April 29 to June 9 with irritation in his left knee and has been hot since his return, going 7-for-19.
But he was limited to sporadic pinch-hitting duty during the recently completed six-game road trip through National League parks in Pittsburgh and Houston where the Angels were unable to use a DH.
The team came back to Angel Stadium and Salmon expected to start Monday night against Oakland right-hander Rich Harden, but switch-hitting outfielder Jeff DaVanon was given the nod. DaVanon is batting .314 this year, .333 against right-handers.
Scioscia said the team still wants Salmon to get the at-bats he needs to get back into a groove, but that the Angels also didn't want to ignore DaVanon's production. This means there will likely be a platoon situation with the two when they're playing American League teams, with DaVanon facing righties and Salmon in the lineup against lefties.
Tim Salmon / RF
Born: 08/24/68
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 235 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
"Tim wants to play," Scioscia said. "There's no question about that and we understand that. We want him to get to the level where we know he can be. He's going to get his at-bats."
Salmon said the meeting with Scioscia cleared the air -- for now.
"It went all right," Salmon said. "Am I satisfied? No. Ultimately I'd like to be playing every day. But he gave me enough reasoning to maybe understand his situation right now, and I will."
Salmon is a notoriously slow starter who likes to have 50 at-bats under his belt before he starts swinging consistently. He admitted that it's frustrating to not have that opportunity right now.
"The pride in me believes that when I get on track, I'm going to provide for this team something that's going to really help us win," Salmon said.
"I'm just going to try to cool the jets right now and let the reasoning play itself out."
Aaron Sele / P
Born: 06/25/70
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 230 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
Sele on Saturday: Aaron Sele, who is on the 15-day disabled list because of right shoulder fatigue, pitched a simulated game Monday, throwing approximately 30 pitches and giving up what the Angels estimated to be two hits.
Scioscia said Sele looked as good as ever and will start Saturday's game, the first day he's eligible to come off the DL.
John Lackey is scheduled to pitch that day, but Scioscia said the team didn't have a problem pushing him back.
Sele was 4-0 with a 3.56 ERA before being shut down after pitching six innings June 10, and his best start as an Angel, a three-hit shutout in 2002, came against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sele's Saturday opponent.
"When Aaron's healthy, we want to get him back out on the mound, because he was pitching so well," Scioscia said.
McPherson promoted: One of the Angels' top prospects took a big step closer to the Major Leagues when it was announced Monday that Double-A Arkansas third baseman Dallas McPherson will be transferred to Triple-A Salt Lake effective Tuesday.
McPherson, 23, has been tearing up Texas League pitching this year, including a stretch in which he hit 16 homers and drove in 44 runs in 25 games. Going into Monday, he was batting .321 with 20 home runs and 69 RBIs.
McPherson could be an intriguing option for the Angels to replace injured slugger Troy Glaus, who had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum and is likely out for the season.
Angels farm director Tony Reagins said McPherson's defense needs to improve before the Angels consider calling him up. McPherson made 12 errors in 68 games for Arkansas.
Offensively, however, the team has no doubts about McPherson's future.
"In our organization, our prospects have to earn their way to the next level," Reagins said. "He's getting to the point where he doesn't have a lot to prove down there."
Jarrod Washburn / P
Born: 08/13/74
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 195 lbs
Bats: L / Throws: L
Washburn still starting: Scioscia said starter Jarrod Washburn was still a little stiff Monday after being pulled from Sunday's start in Houston after two innings because of upper back and neck spasms.
Scioscia said he didn't think the condition would prevent Washburn from making his next start, however. Washburn is scheduled to pitch against the Dodgers on Friday.
Still no word on Lackey: Angels general manager Bill Stoneman said Monday he hadn't heard back from Major League Baseball regarding the appeal of the five-game suspension of Lackey for throwing at Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Simon Pond on May 30.
Minor maneuverings: Reliever Dusty Bergman, who was designated for assignment Friday, was outrighted to Salt Lake on Monday. ... Lefty starter Jake Woods was transferred from Double-A to Triple-A on Saturday and struck out seven batters in six innings in his Triple-A debut Sunday.
Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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Tim Salmon / RF
Jarrod Washburn / P
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