ANAHEIM -- Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs passed his final test of the spring Thursday, pitching five-plus innings in a Triple-A game against the Giants in Tempe, Ariz.
Skaggs allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking two in the 92-pitch outing.
"He threw the ball very well," manager Mike Scioscia said before the Angels faced the Dodgers in the Freeway Series opener at Angel Stadium. "He got up to 90 pitches. If he comes out of it well, we'll have some information moving forward."
Skaggs was lined up to start against the Dodgers, but the Angels decided to have him stay in Arizona and throw in a Minor League game to elevate his pitch count in a more controlled setting.
The 25-year-old missed a start earlier this spring due to shoulder weakness, and continuing uncertainty over his readiness for the start of the season was likely one of the reasons the Angels still have not disclosed the order of their rotation for their opening series against the A's beginning Monday.
Scioscia said the Halos have settled on an Opening Day starter and will officially name him by Friday at the latest. Right-handers Matthew Shoemaker and Ricky Nolasco are the two most logical options and appear lined up to pitch in the first two games in Oakland.
Nolasco could start the opener on five days' rest, with everyone else in the rotation also benefiting from one extra day of rest. Shoemaker, the Angels' steadiest pitcher in 2016, could face the A's on normal rest, though his selection would mean Nolasco would receive a full week between outings.
Worth noting
• Shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who has not played since March 25, remains sidelined with lower back stiffness. Simmons had hoped to be back in the lineup Thursday, but he said the Angels are continuing to play it safe. He is targeting a Friday return.
"He feels much better," Scioscia said. "He'll work out today [Thursday] and hopefully be ready to play tomorrow."
• Right-hander Huston Street was examined by team doctors Thursday and is expected to resume throwing in a few days. Street has been out since March 3 with a right lat strain and might not be ready to rejoin the Angels until late April.