Angels scratch Jered Weaver from a start to use ace in playoff opener

With the American League West title secured Wednesday night, the Angels scratched Jered Weaver from Thursday night’s start against Seattle to give the ace some extra rest before his final two regular-season starts and line him up for Game 1 of the AL division series on Oct. 2.

Weaver, who is 17-8 with a 3.50 earned-run average, was scheduled to make three more starts, including the Sept. 28 season finale at Seattle if that game had playoff implications.

The right-hander instead will pitch Saturday night against Texas in Angel Stadium and on Sept. 26 in Seattle, giving him six days off before Saturday’s start and five days off before his next start. Pitchers normally get four days between starts.

“I don’t think it’s ever a bad thing getting an extra day, and in talking to Mike [Butcher, Angels pitching coach], it made sense to do it now,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “The way he threw the ball last time, you could see his stuff has been coming, and I think he’ll maintain it.”

Scioscia went with what has become known in baseball as a “hangover lineup” Thursday night, resting all of his regulars against the Mariners.

But Scioscia said the starters would return Friday night because the Angels are pushing for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They have already clinched home field for the first round, and they entered play Thursday three games ahead of Baltimore for the AL’s best record.

“It’s important,” Scioscia said of having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. “We’re going to keep our edge and keep playing hard, but not at the expense of putting guys at risk for injury.”