Updating a previous item, Chris Perez (oblique) will pitch in a minor league game Saturday. Perez is ready for game action, but the Indians want to test him against lesser competition before throwing him into a Cactus League game. The team has already mapped out a plan to have him ready for the start of the season.

Chris Perez (oblique) threw 20 pitches of live batting practice Wednesday in Indians camp. Perez was able to feature both his fastball and slider, and reported no issues with his left oblique. The 26-year-old closer should be cleared to make his Cactus League debut Friday and has ample time to get properly geared up by Opening Day.

Chris Perez (oblique) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday. Perez is ahead of schedule after suffering a strained left oblique early in Indians' camp. Barring any setbacks Wednesday, he should make his Cactus League debut Friday. The Indians hope to get him six or seven appearances before the start of the season, so he may end up getting some work in on the minor league side.

Chris Perez (oblique) threw a bullpen session Sunday and is scheduled to face hitters later this week. Perez threw a bullpen session Friday for the first time since suffering a strained left oblique on February 24. Barring any setbacks, he's expected to make his Cactus League debut on Friday. Perez has had a quicker-than-expected comeback and should be ready for the beginning of the season.

Chris Perez (oblique) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Sunday. Perez threw a bullpen session Friday for the first time since suffering a strained left oblique on February 24. Barring any setbacks over the weekend, he's expected to pitch live batting practice on Tuesday and make his Cactus League debut next Friday. There's still a chance he'll be ready for Opening Day.

Chris Perez (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday. Perez was given the go-ahead after throwing long-toss from a distance of 150 feet on Wednesday with no issues. He told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com that he is on pace to make five or six outings this spring, which would give him enough work to be ready for Opening Day.

Chris Perez (oblique) is planning to play long-toss from a distance of 150 feet on Wednesday. If that goes well, it won't be long before Perez is cleared for mound work. He suffered an oblique strain while throwing his first bullpen session of the spring and was originally prescribed a recovery timetable of 4-6 weeks. But he's currently ahead of that pace and could be ready for Opening Day if the progress continues.

Chris Perez (oblique) long-tossed from 105 feet Saturday and will likely be cleared to resume throwing off a mound this week. "I feel good," Perez said. "Right now, everything is based on how I'm feeling each day and I'm feeling really good." Perez will expand his long-toss to 120 feet either Sunday or Monday, and if that goes well, he'll then be cleared to throw from a mound. There's no timetable yet for his return to game action, but if he keeps progressing the way he has recently, there's a good chance he'll be ready by Opening Day.

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com writes that the Indians believe Chris Perez (oblique) still has a chance of being ready for Opening Day. Perez is gradually increasing the distance of his throwing after straining his left oblique late last month. Initial reports had him missing 4-6 weeks, so there's still a chance he could be ready if he doesn't run into any setbacks. Vinnie Pestano would be the likely candidate for saves if Perez needs extra recovery time.

Chris Perez (oblique) played catch Wednesday from a distance of 75 feet.