Skaggs might follow Havey's rehab schedule

ANAHEIM -- Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs, coming back from Aug. 13 Tommy John surgery, is rethinking his original goal of pitching in Minor League games late this summer or in the fall.

Skaggs said Monday his target return date might move, in part because of Mets right-hander Matt Harvey's impressive comeback. Harvey was hurt in August 2013, had Tommy John surgery in October that year and then rehabbed until this spring. The prolonged recovery has led to strong results for the Mets in the opening weeks of this season.

"I'm going to talk to the doc and the medical staff about it," Skaggs, 23, said. "When I come back, I want to be as strong as I possibly can."

Waiting 17 or 18 months instead of the more typical year after surgery might help accomplish that. Skaggs said he's already getting antsy because he's not able to pitch, so a few more months won't change that, as long as it's for the best in the long run. He said he'd inquire about delaying his return to the mound until the spring sometime in the next month.

"I'm working hard to come back as soon as possible," Skaggs said. "I up to [throwing from] 130 feet now, and everything's going well."