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Schill back on the hill

The Yankees are just 6 ½ back, but big Schill is back on the hill for the Sox tonight and he’s never lost a game in Anaheim.

Curt Schilling (6-4, 4.20 ERA) makes his return to the major leagues in a battle of division leaders tonight at Angel Stadium after being on the disabled list for more than six weeks. Schilling was placed on the disabled list on June 22, retroactive to June 19, with tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Before being placed on the DL, Schilling struggled in his last two starts for the Sox, going 0-2 with a 10.61 ERA before right shoulder tendinitis put him on the shelf. It will be Schilling’s first start since a loss in Atlanta on June 18 that saw him get shelled for six runs on 10 hits over just 4 1/3 innings.

Schilling was sent to Pawtucket on rehab assignment on July 21 and in his three rehab starts with the PawSox, the righthander pitched 15 innings without allowing a run, while striking out 18 and not issuing a walk. He allowed four hits and fanned four in seven innings in his last outing on July 31 at Columbus.

Schilling has never lost at Angel Stadium, going 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA in five appearances, including two starts. The outspoken righty is 5-1 in 10 games (five starts) lifetime against the Angels with a 2.79 ERA. This season, Schilling got a win over the Angels at Fenway on April 14, yielding four hits over eight innings in an 8-0 win. The Red Sox took three games against the Angels in a rain-shortened series at Fenway in April, outscoring the Angels, 25-3. Tonight is Schilling's first start at Angel Stadium since July 18, 2004.

Jered Weaver (7-5, 4.00 ERA) gets the start for the Angels. In his last two outings, Weaver is 1-0 with a 9.53. He has made just two career starts against the Sox, going 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA in that span.

The Globe's Gordon Edes will be providing updates from Anaheim tonight.