Cueto closer to return

WASHINGTON — Still expressing relief that he didn’t need Tommy John surgery, Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto threw off a mound for the first time since beginning his rehab from an elbow injury.

He threw 35 pitches in the bullpen before Friday’s series opener at Nationals Park and said he’d like to return about the time he’s eligible to come off the disabled list, which is June 30.

“I want to come back on that day,” Cueto said. “I’m just waiting to see what’s going to happen with the bullpen (sessions). As you all know, throwing bullpens are totally different from pitching in a game.”

The plan is to throw twice more off a mound and then pitch to some Giants hitters. From there, he said he might

need just two minor-league rehab starts.

It’s a promising outlook for the 32-year-old, who last pitched in a game April 28. An MRI exam showed damage to his ulnar collateral ligament, and he went to Florida to see Dr. James Andrews, who recommended rehab over surgery.

“Thank God I won’t have to go to surgery,” Cueto said. “It was a roller coaster. I had already made up my mind. I was 100 percent sure that I was going to get the Tommy John surgery. In my mind, that is big.”

Jeff Samardzija (shoulder

tightness) also threw off a mound and is much closer to returning than Cueto. After Samardzija’s next throwing session, the team will determine whether he’s ready for a rehab start.

Madison Bumgarner made his first 2018 start Tuesday after his broken finger healed, and the Giants’ top three pitchers have yet to be in the rotation together.

Suarez up, down: Andrew Suarez gave up an infield single to his first batter and retired his next 10 batters, four on strikeouts. He was just as dominant as he was when blanking the Phillies over seven innings in his previous start.

Then he lost the feel on his curve and left it up in the zone. Six of his final nine batters reached base, and he was done after 41⁄3 innings.

“I think I ramped up too much, and that’s why the ball was up,” Suarez said. “I’ve got to learn how to keep an even keel all the time.”