Angels remain hopeful pitcher Matt Shoemaker will return for playoffs

Manager Mike Scioscia acknowledged Monday that the chances of Matt Shoemaker pitching in one of the team’s final six regular-season games are “very remote,” but the Angels remain hopeful that Shoemaker, sidelined by a mild left rib-cage strain, will pitch in the playoffs.

“We’re very encouraged he’ll be ready,” Scioscia said before Monday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics, “but you won’t know until he gets on a mound and turns it loose, and that’s still a ways away.”

Shoemaker did play a light game of catch Monday afternoon to activate his arm, the first time he had picked up a ball since he suffered the injury in a Sept. 15 game against Seattle.

Full recovery from an oblique strain can sometimes take four to six weeks, so by holding Shoemaker out this week, the Angels would give him the maximum amount of time to heal before testing him on a mound and to decide whether to activate him for the American League division series.

Rosters for the first round of the playoffs do not have to be submitted until the morning of Game 1 on Oct. 2.

Shoemaker, who is 16-4 with a 3.04 earned-run average this season, said he has noticed more progress in the last two days than at any time over the last week.

“It’s better, but it’s still sore,” Shoemaker said. “I’m getting into a lot of physical activity, moving around, getting ready to go. There’s still no timetable, but I feel very optimistic about getting on a mound again.”

Shoemaker was hoping to appear in at least one of the team’s final six games, “but at the same time, I’m trying to be smart,” he said.

Josh Hamilton, who has missed 16 of the team’s last 17 games because of right shoulder, chest and rib-cage injuries, hit off a tee Monday, and Scioscia said the left fielder “actually feels pretty good today.” But Hamilton won’t return until Friday’s game in Seattle at the earliest.

Second baseman Howie Kendrick, who was pulled from Sunday’s game because of a tight left hamstring, was held out of Monday night’s game as a precaution, but he said he could have played.

Outfielder Collin Cowgill returned to the lineup after missing four games because of a sore left groin.