Snake bites

• Barring any setbacks, Daniel Hudson will throw live batting practice on April 16 for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. The right-hander threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to throw another one Friday before determining if his arm feels well enough to face live batters.

"He's throwing the ball real well," said D-backs manager Kirk Gibson.

The club expects Hudson to return to the Majors sometime after the All-Star break.

• After originally hoping to be activated Friday from the disabled list, Cody Ross (left half) will instead play one more game for Class A Advanced Visalia on Wednesday before joining Triple-A Reno on Friday for more rehab work. Gibson hopes the outfielder will be able to play all nine innings beginning Wednesday.

In four games with Visalia, Ross is 0-for-10 with a RBI and a run scored.

• Adam Eaton (left elbow) began taking batting practice on the field Tuesday. The outfielder had previously hit off a tee and in the cages dating back to April 4.

• Through seven games entering Tuesday, Arizona has hit just .113 against lefties as opposed to .330 against right-handers. This early in the season, though, Gibson isn't worried about the splits just yet.

"It's too early to think about that," Gibson said. "Last year we weren't very good against lefties, but that doesn't mean it's going to turn out that way this year. With really good pitchers, they are going to shut you down, it's just a matter of whether you can play the rest of the game good enough to win."