Angels’ Ryan Madson not ready to go but says he’s making progress

Ryan Madson said he’s making progress in his return from elbow surgery but there’s still no timetable for when he will pitch in the regular season.

“I’m not certain of that,” the right-handed reliever said Thursday, but he added, “I’m definitely feeling better.”

Madson, 32, underwent the surgery nearly a year ago and has struggled this spring to resume throwing consistently without pain or tightness.

But the former Philadelphia Phillies closer, signed by the Angels in November, said he was cautiously encouraged after throwing 40 pitches in a bullpen session Wednesday.

“I don’t feel 100%. I don’t feel normal. That’s probably not going to happen for another six months,” Madson said.

“Arm feels good; it was definitely fatigued after,” Madson added. “It feels like I’m starting spring training right now with some added bumpiness from the surgery.”

Changing sides

After being released by the Dodgers, veteran reliever Mark Lowe is making his case to pitch for the Angels — beginning with games against the Dodgers in the Freeway Series.

Lowe, 29, said his goal was to “accomplish what I’ve been doing all spring. I feel like I had a good spring training, throwing strikes.”

After Lowe walked into the Angels’ clubhouse and received a hug from Josh Hamilton, a former teammate at Texas, Lowe was asked if he felt extra incentive to pitch well against the Dodgers.

“I just went to spring training with them; it wasn’t like I went through a full season,” the right-hander said, adding that he had “a lot of respect for those guys over there.”

C.J. Wilson’s outing

Starting pitcher C.J. Wilson gave up three runs, all earned, and eight hits in 61/3 innings in a minor league game in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Wilson struck out seven and did not walk a batter.

The left-hander was roughed up in a March 22 start against the Kansas City Royals when he gave up eight runs, six earned, in 22/3 innings.

james.peltz@latimes.com