Lackey continues to make progress

SEATTLE -- The Angels entered a three-game series against their division rivals Friday night without their top pitcher, a right-hander who last season could have been nicknamed Seattle Slew.

John Lackey, who went 4-0 with an 0.58 earned-run average in four starts against the Mariners in 2007, is on the disabled list because of a triceps strain and not expected back until May.

But the Angels are encouraged by Lackey’s progress, especially after the ace completed his first bullpen workout since being injured, throwing 30 pitches Thursday, all fastballs, in Angel Stadium before the team headed for Seattle.

“He looked great,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He really threw the ball well, nice and easy.”

Lackey, who went 19-9 with an American League-low 3.01 ERA last season, is scheduled to throw about 45 pitches off a mound Sunday, mixing in some breaking balls.

After three or four bullpen workouts, Lackey will throw to hitters in a few simulated games before embarking on a minor league rehabilitation assignment. Barring a setback, he could return in the first or second week of May.

“I feel good -- everything is fine,” Lackey said. “The elbow has been good for a while.”

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After resting his sprained right ankle during Thursday’s off day, Francisco Rodriguez declared himself fit enough to reclaim his closer role Friday afternoon.

Then, the right-hander apparently proved it, completing a short bullpen workout during batting practice, after which pitching coach Mike Butcher said Rodriguez “looked good.”

Rodriguez also said he was sound before Monday night’s game against Cleveland, and that didn’t go too well -- he blew a save, giving up three runs in the ninth inning, and was pulled after 13 pitches because of ankle pain.

“There are varying degrees of OK,” Scioscia said. “He was OK Monday until the last two or three pitches he threw. . . . He knows his body. As soon as he feels ready to do what he needs to do, and he’s not physically limited by anything, he’ll be available.”

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Friday’s news that baseball toughened its drug program, increasing the number of in-season and out-of-season tests, was met with ambivalence in some corners of the Angels clubhouse.

“I know I don’t do anything,” center fielder Torii Hunter said. “If I test positive, you know something is wrong.”

Not that Hunter would completely rule out that possibility.

“Who’s to say a Boston fan won’t inject your steak with steroids?” Hunter said. “It could be any fan.”

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Second baseman Howie Kendrick, who hasn’t played since leaving Monday night’s game because of a jammed right thumb, took batting and fielding practice Friday and is expected to return tonight.

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There is heavy security at the team hotel in Seattle, but not because of the Angels. The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan political and spiritual leader who is scheduled to speak today in Qwest Field, is staying in the same hotel. . . . Reliever Chris Bootcheck, sidelined since early March because of a rib-cage strain, will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga tonight.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com