ANAHEIM -- Angels right-hander Huston Street visited Dr. Steve Yoon for a checkup Thursday and gained clearance to begin throwing Tuesday for the first time since suffering a strained right lat on March 3.
Street said he received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his back two-and-a-half weeks ago and showed sufficient healing to advance to the next phase of his rehab.
"It was great news," Street said Friday. "I think Dr. Yoon was excited with the way the injection took. We've been doing pretty aggressive exercises, so we felt fairly confident that the muscle was at least healing… The next step is obviously the most important step, which is throwing and getting ready to get my arm back in shape."
Street, 33, said he expected to play catch Tuesday and will gradually build up to throwing off the mound. After that, he will start facing hitters and eventually pitch five to seven innings over a series of rehab outings.
"We've got to get enough innings in because I've missed almost all of Spring Training," Street said. "The good thing is I got through all my bullpens and all my live stuff, so you don't lose it all in four weeks."
Street appears on track to rejoin the Angels in late April, though he wouldn't establish a timetable. Street said he tried to rush back from an oblique injury last year and consequently struggled, posting a career-worst 6.45 ERA over 22 1/3 innings in an injury-marred season.
"I fundamentally -- and it was my fault -- made the mistake of coming back too early last year from the oblique, and that was 100 percent on me," Street said. "I was given every opportunity to say, 'No, I'm not ready,' or 'I need a couple more outings.' You get competitive. You're a competitor, and you want to go pitch. But I learned a little bit from that mistake."
The Angels had planned on having a three-way competition between Street, Cam Bedrosian and Andrew Bailey this spring to determine who would enter the season as the club's closer. With Street injured, Bedrosian, who has not allowed a run in eight innings this spring, appears poised to handle closing duties for the Angels. Bailey will likely serve as the club's setup man.

Worth noting
• The Angels made a pair of roster cuts Friday, reassigning infielder Dustin Ackley to Minor League camp and optioning right-hander Mike Morin to Triple-A Salt Lake. Ackley is rehabbing from shoulder surgery and has not been able to play the field yet. Morin, who had been in the bullpen mix, logged a 4.35 ERA over 10 1/3 innings this spring. The Halos now have 32 active players in Major League camp.
• Left-hander Tyler Skaggs will open the season in the Angels' rotation after bouncing back well from his Minor League start against the Giants on Thursday. Skaggs will make his next start on April 6 against the A's in Oakland.
• Shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who has not played since March 25, remains out of the Angels' lineup with a bothersome back. Manager Mike Scioscia said Simmons would be re-evaluated Saturday.
"Obviously we're being a little bit cautious," Scioscia said. "I think if yesterday was a regular-season game or before, he would have played through this and hopefully would heal up as you play through it. But we have the luxury right now of not having the season start. Getting him to work out with an aggressive workout, I think, is the best course of action. We'll read him and see if he can get out there tomorrow."