Hunter progressing in recovery

HOUSTON -- Reliever Tommy Hunter continues to make progress as he works his way back from a groin strain, and he could be activated from the disabled list on the first day he's eligible, which is June 5.

"[Assistant athletic trainer] Brian [Ebel] is going back [to Baltimore] for his son's graduation, and he's going to pick up Tommy's rehab a little bit there," manager Buck Showalter said on Thursday.

"Tommy's been on flat ground for ... four days. He feels good. I'm going to let Brian kind of handle that, once he gets there, about when he might go pitch some. But that's progressing well. I think it's June 5 or 6. He's got a shot at that."

Hunter is 1-1 with a 6.06 ERA and 11 saves in 19 games.