LOS ANGELES -- Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson took another step forward in his recovery from left shoulder tendinitis on Monday, throwing a 40-pitch simulated game before the Angels opened the Freeway Series at Dodger Stadium.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Wilson's progress has been "encouraging," but added that there's still a long way to go in his recovery.
"He is not game-ready," Scioscia said. "I think there's a plan of where he wants to be, but it's going to take more workouts before he's going into any game."
Wilson hasn't pitched since last July, but he's made progress in recent weeks during bullpen sessions and Monday was his first simulated game. He said he is targeting a return in the middle of June. He is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list on June 2.
While Wilson said he hopes to return as soon as possible, Scioscia said there still is no timetable and he doesn't yet have a start date in mind for a Minor League rehab assignment.
"I don't think you're going to look too far down the road," Scioscia said. "I think there's a plan with C.J. to see when he's going to be available, but it's very fluid. I think that it has to be. He's not ready to throw in a game, so it, at the very least, needs to be repeated and we'll see where he is."
Worth noting
• First baseman Ji-Man Choi cleared waivers on Sunday and was offered back to the Baltimore Orioles. Choi had a prior outright assignment, giving him the choice of opting for free agency instead of accepting a Minor League assignment with either organization. He opted to remain with the Angels, accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake.
• Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs, whose rehab from 2014 Tommy John surgery was interrupted by a bout with left biceps tendinitis, passed a strength test on Monday and was cleared to resume throwing. He threw from 60 feet and is expected to throw from 90 feet on Tuesday. The next step would be bullpen sessions, which could happen in about a week. It has been just over three weeks since Skaggs has thrown off a mound, but he had already appeared in five games with Triple-A Salt Lake before being shut down.
• Angels right-handed reliever Javy Guerra cleared waivers on Monday and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake. Guerra, 30, was designated for assignment on Thursday after posting a 9.00 ERA in four appearances this season. He posted a 2.19 ERA in 10 appearances at Triple-A earlier this season before being called up to the Majors on May 6.