KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson will have season-ending surgery to remove bone spurs in his ailing left elbow, a significant blow to his club’s playoff aspirations.

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia announced Wilson’s decision before Thursday night’s game against the Royals in Kansas City. Los Angeles began the day two games back of the Houston Astros in the AL West and 1 1/2 games up on the Tampa Bay Rays for the final wild-card spot.

“When you first shut down a pitcher, you’re obviously hoping that it would be short term and he’d able to regain his form to go out there,” Scioscia said. “I had no idea what direction this was going to go – could be surgical, could be rest, could be a lot of things.”

Wilson went on the disabled list July 31 with inflammation. He recently got a second opinion on his elbow from Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, and decided surgery – rather than rest – would give him the best chance of being healthy by spring training.

ATHLETICS: Right-hander Sonny Gray, the AL ERA leader at 2.06, was scratched from his start at Toronto on Thursday because of back spasms.

ROYALS: All-Star outfielder Alex Gordon hopes to begin a rehab assignment in the next couple weeks and potentially rejoin the team for its push toward an AL Central title.

Gordon has been on the disabled list since July 9 with a severely strained left groin. But he has been taking regular batting practice and earlier this week shagged fly balls.

TWINS: Minnesota placed right-hander Phil Hughes on the 15-day disabled list because inflammation in his lower back. The 29-year-old’s last start was his worst of the season: nine hits and seven runs allowed in three innings.

Left-hander Tommy Milone will be reinstated from the disabled list and start Sunday against Cleveland, after missing 15 days with a strained left elbow. Rookie right-hander Tyler Duffey will be recalled from Triple-A Rochester and start Saturday against the Indians. The Twins also moved right-hander Trevor May from the bullpen into the rotation to start Friday.

RANGERS: Left fielder Josh Hamilton still has soreness in his left knee, and was out of the lineup for a second straight game.

OWNERS’ MEETINGS: Major League Baseball announced it has retained search firm Korn Ferry to help top contenders for openings in baseball operations, especially women and minorities.

There has never been a female general manager in the sport, and there are very few women and minorities on that side of the organizational structure.

The announcement came at the end of a quiet two days of owners’ meetings in Chicago.