Lackey ready to start rehab assignment

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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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.

“I don’t see it,” Scioscia said when asked if any ill will existed. “There were some issues toward the end of last year that have been resolved internally with their team. There was an incident last September. We know that. That hasn’t carried over on our side, that’s for sure. We’re playing good baseball. That’s what we’re focusing on.”

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Scioscia gave several regulars a break Saturday, using Hunter as the designated hitter, starting Juan Rivera for the first time this season in left, playing Robb Quinlan for the second time at first and allowing Rodriguez to make his big-league debut at second.

Rodriguez, whose father Johnny is a minor league hitting coach for the Florida Marlins, singled in the sixth inning for his first big league hit.

Scioscia said Hunter, who has a jammed toe, could DH today as well. Combined with Monday’s scheduled off day, that would mean a three-day break from the rigors of playing center field for Hunter, who also has a stiff back, the result of a minor auto accident Friday.

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kevin.baxter@latimes.com