Burnett throws simulated game, needs 'bit of work'

HOUSTON -- Sean Burnett threw a second simulated game on Saturday, "but he needs a little bit of work," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of his rehabbing lefty reliever.

Burnett -- recovering from August elbow surgery and coming off a season that was limited to 13 appearances -- has been throwing bullpen sessions since March 13, though he had a minor setback due to a bad reaction to an arthritis shot on March 21. Saturday's sim game, in Arizona, was his second, occurring three days after he threw his first at Angel Stadium, but he isn't ready to venture out on a rehab assignment just yet.

"He needs to be in a controlled environment right now," Scioscia said.

Asked if it's realistic that Burnett can be back by the end of April, Scioscia said: "I think the next 10 days will give us a little bit better indication of what's happening. He hasn't gotten close enough to really make a call on how close he's going to be and how long."

Prior to Wednesday, the last time Burnett had even faced hitters was in a regular-season game on May 26 of last year.

"He really hasn't done this basically for a year," Scioscia said of Burnett, who is in the final guaranteed season of a two-year, $8 million contract. "You're not going to all of a sudden feel good, throw a couple 'pens and go out there and pitch in a game. There's a progression, and right now he's really going through what you'd hope would be Spring Training for him. So it's going to take a little bit of time."