Kaz ready by opener?

On Wednesday, Scott Kazmir was optimistic when talking about his rehab from a strained left elbow. On Thursday, Rays manager Joe Maddon was somewhat optimistic Kazmir could return in time to pitch at Baltimore on Opening Day.

“From what I saw today I’m pretty optimistic that he’s normal,” Maddon said before the Rays-Phillies game in Clearwater. “He wasn’t holding back. He could be right about that time. He could be ready to go. I got a sense of that. We’ll see.”

Maddon watched Kazmir complete a throwing session with Rays trainer Ron Porterfield at Al Lang Field earlier in the morning. Throwing from 90 feet, Kazmir appeared to be throwing the way he normally throws, Maddon said.

“It was very firm. An uninhibited arm action,” Maddon said. “He looked very good.”

Kazmir threw for the second time in two days.

He will long-toss Saturday and have a bullpen session either Sunday or Monday. Depending on his progress, Kazmir could find himself pitching in a spring game by mid-week.

“I think one solid bullpen and he might be ready for a game after that,” Maddon said.