Progress for injured closers

NEW YORK — The Angels might get their closer competition, after all.

As right-hander Huston Street (lat strain) approaches a rehabilitation assignment, the Angels announced on Sunday that right-hander Cam Bedrosian would begin throwing off the mound for the first time since a right groin strain landed him on the disabled list on April 22.

“It’ll be light,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “But obviously it’s a step in the right direction.”

Bedrosian has appeared in six games this season, collecting three saves without giving up a run.

His recovery has taken longer than expected. The Angels insisted Bedrosian wouldn’t throw off of a mound until the pain in the muscle had completely dissipated.

The Angels once envisioned a closer competition between Bedrosian, Street and Andrew Bailey, who was moved to the 60-day from the 10-day disabled list last week as he recovers from shoulder inflammation.

He is eligible to return June 9.

Instead, the Angels have been rescued by a longtime starting pitcher: Bud Norris, who has eight saves in 10 tries and owns a 2.95 ERA.

Bedrosian had a breakout 2016, when he held a 1.12 ERA over 401⁄3 innings, including one save, to established himself as one of the league’s more promising relievers.

Cracking the code

Cameron Maybin would very much like to continue batting leadoff.

For some reason, he is afraid to say so except in poorly hidden code.

“I'm very comfortable ... ” — he let the thought hang in the air, made eye contact, and smiled — “getting it started.”

“I guess you could put it that way,” he said. “I enjoy ... getting things started.”

Maybin spent the early part of the season mostly batting sixth and seventh. He has batted leadoff for the last five games, and the results are hard to argue with. He has 11 hits in 21 at-bats and has scored seven runs.

But he is probably wary of appearing to lobby for a better lineup position. So he talks around it.

As in: Does he want to stay at leadoff?

“Eh,” he said. “I just want to help.” He grew more animated. “I just want to help!” he said again. “But I really, really like — I really like being there. You know? It's like the automatic starter before you get in the car, you just press it. I like that.”

Short hops

The Angels combined to hit a “home run cycle” on Sunday: Solo (Jefry Marte), two-run (Mike Trout), three-run (Andrelton Simmons) and a grand slam (C.J. Cron).