Angels' Lackey ready to begin rehab assignment

"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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Lackey isn't the only Angels pitcher on the mend. Reliever Chris Bootcheck, who also opened the season on the disabled list because of a strained rib-cage muscle, was activated after Saturday's game, and pitcher Alex Serrano was optioned to triple-A Salt Lake. Bootcheck made the last of three scoreless rehab appearances for Rancho Cucamonga on Friday, giving up a hit in his only inning at Stockton.

Right-hander Kelvim Escobar, an 18-game winner last season, is expected to pick up a ball and begin testing the torn labrum in his right shoulder within the next few days.

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Although the last three series between the Angels and Mariners have featured pitchers' either hitting or throwing behind batters, both managers said Saturday they aren't reading anything into that.

"I don't think there's any ill will," Seattle's John McLaren said a day after the Mariners' Sean Green hit Chone Figgins in the leg and Vladimir Guerrero in the helmet with pitches.

Last September the Mariners' Jorge Campillo was suspended four games for throwing at Jeff Mathis and Guerrero in retaliation for the Angels' hitting Seattle catcher Kenji Johjima with a pitch. And earlier this season Angels reliever Justin Speier threw behind Ichiro Suzuki after the Mariners had plunked Torii Hunter.