Cuddyer on track for activation from disabled list

DENVER -- Rockies outfielder Michael Cuddyer was happy enough with his throwing and hitting in the batting cage that he believes he will be ready to return from his neck injury Friday, the day he is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list.

Cuddyer has a disk issue that appeared in 2004, flared in 2011 and recurred during the Rockies' last homestand. He had a epidural shot Tuesday and has improved his range of motion since.

"I'm on track for Friday," Cuddyer said. "I'm sure I'll do a rehab assignment, just to see how it feels. Today was the best I felt. It's definitely gotten better every day. Two days after I got the shot, it started getting better."

The Rockies miss Cuddyer's production. He was batting .319 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs through 31 games before going to the DL.