Zack Greinke throws pain-free bullpen session

PHOENIX -- Zack Greinke returned to the mound and threw a bullpen session on Sunday, six days after he received an injection of platelet-rich plasma to temper inflammation in his right elbow.

With pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and Manager Don Mattingly standing nearby, Greinke delivered about 40 pitches. Greinke pitched out of both the windup and the stretch.

Greinke wouldn’t say what’s planned next for him.

The $147-million man didn’t offer any thoughts on whether he will be make his first scheduled start of the regular season on April 2.

“I’m just doing what’s laid out,” Greinke said. “Our team, we got other starting pitchers. I’ve got to be ready. They’re going to weigh all that and decide when I’m going to pitch and stuff.”

Greinke faces a difficult timetable to prepare himself for the opening week of the season, as he figures to start no more than two more times in the exhibition season. He has made two starts this spring, the most recent on March 1, and pitched a total of only five innings.

Because the Dodgers have two days off in the first eight days of the regular season, they won’t need a fifth starter until April 13. They could therefore place Greinke on the disabled list without making any alterations to their rotation.

“I want to do what’s best for the team,” Greinke said. “It’s not important what day.”

The last time Greinke threw a bullpen session, he experienced inflammation in his elbow the next day.

“I’m assuming it’s going to be fine and we’ll be on track to do whatever,” Greinke said. “But I don’t know for sure.”

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