TEMPE, Ariz. -- Ervin Santana -- like fellow Angels starters Kelvim Escobar and John Lackey -- can't be sure when he'll pitch a game with meaning again, but he doesn't appear concerned that his tender right elbow will keep him sidelined for more than a month of the 2009 season.

"It feels good," Santana said on Tuesday, continuing his program of long toss at Tempe Diablo Stadium. "I take it day by day, one day at a time."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia indicated that Santana will come west with the team when it breaks camp, and continue his rehab with the medical staff as the club opens its season.

An All-Star in 2008 with a breakthrough season, Santana "is making progress," Scioscia said, "but I don't know how long it's going to be. Right now he's passing every test.

"He threw 130 feet yesterday, and he threw some bullets. He'll go to 140, 150, 170, 180 ... there's a progression. I don't know if it's going to take a couple weeks."

At this point, Escobar, making a remarkably swift recovery from July 29 shoulder surgery, clearly is further along than Santana.

"I'm not worried," Santana said. "I'll be fine."

Scioscia has said that Escobar, who threw consistently in the 90s in a camp game on Monday, could be back in the rotation before May 1. If that happens, he figures to beat Santana by a week or two.

The condition of Lackey, who experienced right forearm tightness pitching against the Royals on Sunday, is unclear. Lackey said he is improving each day and could be ready to play catch on Thursday and resume pitching next week.

The Angels have three candidates -- Dustin Moseley, Shane Loux and Nick Adenhart -- for what they assumed would be two rotation spots available on Opening Day, those belonging to Escobar and Santana.

If Lackey has a setback and isn't ready to take his projected Opening Day assignment, it is possible Moseley, Loux and Adenhart could form three-fifths of the opening rotation along with Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver.

Santana pitched a career-high 219 innings in 2008, going 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA. He was fourth in the American League in innings and second in strikeouts.

Santana finished among the top five in the AL in strikeouts per nine innings (third, 8.79), opponents' on-base percentage (second, .283), opponents' slugging percentage (tied for fourth, .368) and opponents' OPS (fourth, .651).

Returning home to the Dominican Republic, he pitched only 6 1/3 innings of winter ball. He has not appeared in a Cactus League game.

Scioscia is never surprised by aches and pains in pitchers' arms during the spring.

"I don't think there's a pitcher in that room who hasn't had elbow or shoulder [issues]," Scioscia said. "Ervin has a history of elbow discomfort, shoulder discomfort through his Minor League days. It's something as a pitcher you deal with.

"He has something that he knows is a little setback, but it's not something he can't manage."