WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Alex Bregman took batting practice for the second day in a row on Thursday, and he is still on track to appear in a Grapefruit League game in the beginning of March.

Bregman is working out without restrictions and hasn't had to scale back any part of his swing during batting practice. The third baseman, who had minor right elbow surgery in January, is on track to be ready Opening Day.

"We continue to amp it up, take a foot off the gas, amp it up, take the foot off the gas," Bregman said of the intensity of his daily workouts, which test the elbow. "Put pressure on it, take pressure off. And then see how it reacts."

"He's passed every test so far," manager AJ Hinch said. "He feels great, he's doing a lot of work in the morning before we get out here. He's itching to go. He feels great. He tells me every single day, he's ready."

Pitching lined up

Hinch revealed the pitching schedule for the first several games of the Grapefruit League season, which begins Saturday against the Nationals at 5:35 p.m. CT.

Right-hander Brady Rodgers will start the opener, followed by Framber Valdez at home against the Braves on Sunday and Rogelio Armenteros on the road at the Mets. Justin Verlander will make his spring debut on Monday vs. the Mets, and Gerrit Cole will start Tuesday on the road against the Marlins.

Wednesday will feature Wade Miley and Collin McHugh, who will both pitch against the Nationals. Miley will go first.

"McHugh wanted me to do it that way so I will have to answer questions about whether he's a starter or reliever," Hinch joked.

Brad Peacock rounds out the schedule with a start next Thursday against the Marlins.

Rules changes?

Prior to the Grapefruit League opener on Saturday, Hinch will meet at noon with MLB officials, including chief baseball officer Joe Torre and senior vice president of baseball operations Peter Woodfork. Rules changes for 2019 are among the topics to be discussed. That includes the 20-second pitch clock, which will be used during Spring Training games.

During his recent visit to Astros camp, owner Jim Crane seemed to be in favor of the new rule proposal, admitting that "the game's gotten too long in everybody's opinion, even the players."

"We're going to have to do something to get the game times down, under three hours, or even lower," Crane said. "It's hard for the fans -- and, by the way, the fans pay the bills."

Hinch said he has an open mind about the 20-second pitch clock but wants to try it before he forms an opinion on it.

"Anything that new usually begins with some resistance," he said. "We've hit a lot of things on the mark as an industry. We were all up in arms about the no-collision rule at home plate; that's become standard operation. We all feel better that guys aren't getting concussions and getting knocked out anymore."

The slide rule at second base is another rule Hinch has grown to appreciate over time, after initially being resistant to it.

"I was personally pretty loud about not liking it," he said. "I'm appreciative now that they're not going to blow up [Jose] Altuve at second base when they're going in to break up a double play. The intentional walk [rule] was a big deal and now you guys are thankful that we don't have to throw four stupid pitches."

First-base options

Josh Reddick may be spotted taking ground balls at first base at some point this spring, but that doesn't mean the right fielder will be making a permanent position change.

Reddick, who is entering the third year of a four-year contract, is looking to expand his value to the team by being prepared in case there is a mid-game need at first base. The need is not likely to arise that often, given the variety of options the Astros already have in place, including Tyler White, who has appeared in 61 games at first base in the past two seasons.

But Reddick would like to be prepared for any opportunities that may arise to stay in games.

"The more reps I get, the better I'm prepared for it, and it won't be a hassle or panic to go over there," he said.

Quotable

"I'm bored out of my mind," Bregman, echoing the sentiments of most players who have ever had to rehab from injury/surgery during Spring Training.