With Lackey and Ervin Santana opening the season on the DL, the Angels don't want Escobar to feel pressured to rush back.
"He's on his own schedule, and it will not be accelerated," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "There's a progression you can't cheat. He has to get to 90 to 100 pitches and be able to repeat it."
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On the mend
Santana, out since early March because of a sprained elbow ligament, has extended his long-toss program to 150 feet and could begin throwing off a mound in a week or so, Yocum said. First, the right-hander must stretch his long-toss to 200 feet.
"He feels great -- we haven't seen any speed bump or setback so far," said Yocum, who examined Santana on Saturday. "The real test will be when he gets back on a mound.
"If he gets through this, keeps his strength up and maintains good mechanics, it shouldn't be a problem pitching the whole season with this."
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Thunder sticks
The Angels continued to club their way through the Cactus League, amassing 20 hits, including four each by Kendry Morales and Erick Aybar, in a 16-9 exhibition win over Seattle on Saturday.
Morales homered, Aybar hit a three-run triple, and Howie Kendrick and Torii Hunter also homered for the Angels, who have 83 runs and 101 hits, including 23 homers, in their last seven games. The Angels (22-5) set a franchise record for spring wins.
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Short hops
Dustin Moseley gave up six runs and 10 hits, including four homers, in seven innings of a triple-A game against San Francisco on Saturday. Moseley struck out three and walked one while throwing 88 pitches. . . . Mike Napoli led off five innings of the triple-A game and doubled twice against ace Tim Lincecum, who started for the Giants. . . . Vladimir Guerrero was held out Saturday because of conjunctivitis and hopes to return today. . . . Joe Saunders was scratched from today's start because of a stomach ailment. The left-hander will pitch in a minor league game Monday.
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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com
