News is good on Angels relievers Dane De La Rosa, Sean Burnett

TEMPE, Ariz. — There was some encouraging news regarding two key Angels relievers on Saturday.

Right-hander Dane De La Rosa threw his first bullpen session since suffering a forearm strain on March 6, and left-hander Sean Burnett said the discomfort that forced him to be shut down during Friday’s bullpen session was minor and unrelated to the elbow surgery that ended his season last August.

“I had a little reaction from an injection I had a week ago,” said Burnett, who was limited by elbow problems to 13 appearances last season. “It felt a little cranky, but it was nothing too serious. I’ll give it a day or two and get back out there.”

Burnett, who will open the season on the disabled list, said he received monthly injections of a lubricant to treat arthritis last season, but this was his first injection of the spring. The soreness is on the outside of his forearm, not the inside, where he suffered a partial tear in 2013.

De La Rosa, who went 6-1 with a 2.86 earned run average in a team-high 75 games last season, threw about 30 pitches off the mound Saturday morning.

“It went excellent,” De La Rosa said. “I threw everything and felt good.”

De La Rosa said he would need to pitch in one exhibition game to be ready for the March 31 season opener, but there is a good chance he will begin the season on the DL.

“He will need a little more work,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Left-hander Brian Moran, sidelined for a week because of a sore elbow, began playing catch on Saturday, but he will need to progress through a long-toss program before returning to the mound and will also start the year on the DL.

ALSO:

Estates of Mike Webster, others sue NFL over concussions

Pontiac Silverdome auction: Anyone want a stadium seat? Or a urinal?

Jason Collins says he’s been taunted by only one fellow NBA player for being gay