Hanson on track to rejoin rotation after break

SEATTLE -- The Angels have a potential opening in their rotation on July 23 and right-hander Tommy Hanson appears to be on track to fill it.

Hanson, placed on the 15-day disabled list May 21 with right forearm strain, threw a simulated game Saturday and appeared to be healthy.

"Tommy's doing very well," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's going to throw another bullpen and then hopefully he'll have a rehab start next weekend and see when he's ready to be put back in our rotation.

"He threw about 38 pitches and his stuff looked very good."

Will he be ready by the 23rd?

"We're not going to try to fit a square peg into a round hole," he added. "If he progresses and is ready, I would hope he'd be a candidate, but he needs to go out and pitch and we'll evaluate where he is."

Scioscia added that the rotation is set for the first four games of the second half, although he was not ready to reveal it yet.

Three other injured pitchers are not quite as far along: right-hander Ryan Madson (right elbow), left-hander Sean Burnett (left elbow impingement) and left-hander Jason Vargas (blood clot).