John Lackey, out since spring training with a strained right triceps, technically has already started throwing from a mound. During a flat-ground throwing session in the bullpen Tuesday, Lackey backed up and tried things from a mound for the first time in about a month.

"He was cheating," manager Mike Scioscia said before today's afternoon game against the Indians. "No, he didn't cheat, he was allowed to. The catcher was up a little bit so he was using the slope but wasn't throwing all the way. Tomorrow he's going to throw a full bullpen, just fastballs though."

When a pitcher goes all out in a bullpen session, Scioscia likes to call it "full gorilla." Lackey's bullpen Thursday will be a little less than that. Scioscia called it "orangutan."