Vargas eyes rotation return after bullpen session

CLEVELAND -- Jason Vargas will throw a between-starts bullpen session Sunday at Progressive Field, and if the Angels left-hander comes out of it feeling good, he'll start Tuesday against the Yankees in the Bronx.

Vargas' last start in the Majors came on June 17. Since then, he was diagnosed with a blood clot near his left arm pit, had surgery, started a throwing program and made one rehab start in Triple-A on Thursday, giving up four runs in 4 2/3 innings.

"If Jason is ready," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, "we want to get him folded into the rotation as quickly as we can."

Tuesday would be Tommy Hanson's turn in the rotation, but Scioscia didn't want to speculate on who gets bumped from the staff if Vargas returns in three days. The Angels haven't announced the rotation past Jerome Williams' turn Sunday, and the off-day this past Thursday allows for some flexibility.

"Let's get through Jason's bullpen and see where we are," Scioscia said. "We'll make decisions as they come up."