Lackey doesn’t rule out opener

TEMPE, Ariz. -- As the Angels appeared to line up Jered Weaver to start on opening day, Manager Mike Scioscia firmly rejected John Lackey’s bid to start the opener.

Although the Angels previously had ruled out the possibility because of a sore elbow that delayed his spring workouts, Lackey said Thursday he had not.

“I wouldn’t say it’s out of the picture,” he said. “I think I could. Whether they let me or not is a different story.”

Said Scioscia: “That’s not something we’re considering.”

Weaver pitched the first three innings of Thursday’s 9-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants, giving up one run and striking out four. If he continues to pitch every fifth day, he would start the opener against the Minnesota Twins, although Scioscia would not confirm that plan.

Weaver went 2-0 in three starts against the Twins last season, with a 2.11 earned-run average.

Lackey spoke after completing what Scioscia called a “lights-out” bullpen session, his final workout before his scheduled Cactus League debut Monday.

If he were to start on opening day, he would do so after four exhibition starts, in which he could work up to 80 or 90 pitches. Scioscia said the Angels want him to make five exhibition starts, working up to 100 pitches.

Lackey is penciled in for the fifth game of the season, the home opener against the Texas Rangers.

Shields up?

Scot Shields has been slowed by a sore shoulder and is not expected to make his Cactus League debut until next week. As a short reliever, however, he would have enough time to be ready for the opener.

Even with his heavy workload -- the most innings of any major league reliever over the last four years -- neither he nor Scioscia is concerned about a recurrence of last summer’s fade. Shields pitched his way out of the setup role with a 7.56 ERA after July 31.

“He maintained his velocity,” Scioscia said. “He maintained the crispness of his breaking ball. I don’t think it was workload-related. I think it was more of a rhythm and mechanical issue. He’s got a complicated delivery.”

Said Shields: “I don’t know if it was a mechanical thing. I think, to be honest, it was a fluke, and I let it get the best of me. I know it’s not going to happen again.”

Less is more

Ervin Santana said he met with his agent, Bean Stringfellow, to discuss the circumstances by which the Angels cut his pay from $425,000 last season. The Angels offered $430,000, then renewed his contract for $420,000 after Stringfellow told the club Santana would not accept the offer.

“He said that would be better for me,” Santana said. “I think the amount was not fair. We decided to take less money.”

Stringfellow did not return a message to explain why the pay cut was “better.” Santana said he was satisfied with his agent and said he had put the issue behind him.

“It’s not going to affect me at all,” he said.

Guerrero homers

Vladimir Guerrero hit his first home run of the spring. Gary Matthews Jr. doubled, singled and drove in two runs. . . . Justin Speier pitched one perfect inning in his Cactus League debut, with closer Francisco Rodriguez scheduled to make his first spring appearance today . . . Angels scouting director Eddie Bane was selected for the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Bane went 40-4 with a 1.64 ERA in three years at Arizona State.

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com