Right-hander John Lackey is scheduled to make his first minor league rehab start Thursday after breezing through a 40-pitch simulated game at Angel Stadium on Saturday.
"He's ready stuff-wise to go out there and compete," said Manager Mike Scioscia, who joined rookie Sean Rodriguez in batting against Lackey. "We want to make sure he comes out of this fine. If that comes to pass, he'll be on his way to getting stretched out and getting the stamina he'll need to rejoin" the Angels.
Lackey, out since March 21 because of a strained right triceps, will throw 40 pitches or two innings Thursday for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, then increase his workload by 15 pitches a start over the next two to three weeks. That has him on track to be added to the Angels rotation as early as May 9.
"We're excited about where he is," Scioscia said. "There's no more need for any more of these workouts. He's ready for a game."
And for Lackey, a 19-game winner who finished third in voting for the American League Cy Young Award last season, it's about time.
"I'm a pretty competitive guy," he said. "The guys have been playing great. But you definitely want to be in there."
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