Richards (knee) threw in an intrasquad game Wednesday, and will make his Cactus League debut Monday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports. Richards reported feeling good after Wednesday's performance, and was happy with the outing. The 26-year-old will likely miss the first couple weeks of the regular season, but he appears to be progressing well. Getting through game action will be a major hurdle for him to clear, so how he feels after Monday's outing should dictate when his next appearance will come.

Richards (knee) will throw in an intrasquad game Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports. RIchards will likely throw two innings against his teammates and if all goes well, he could make his Cactus League debut Mar. 23 against the Mariners. It's looking more likely with each passing day that the 26-year-old will be 100 percent healthy when he takes the mound, so prospective owners needn't shy away, despite the fact that he will miss a few turns in the rotation to open the year.

Richards (knee) will make his Cactus League debut in 10 days, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports. Richards will take pitcher's fielding practice again Friday and if all goes well, he will make what will likely be a one-inning spring debut shortly thereafter. Richards appears to be progressing flawlessly in his attempt to return from knee surgery he underwent in August, but the nature of his timetable will still necessitate the 26-year-old missing the first week or two of the season.

Richards (knee) is tentatively scheduled to throw another simulated game this weekend, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports. The simulated game is expected to last two innings, and will include pitchers' fielding practice. If all goes well in the outing, Richards could be in line to make his Cactus League debut sometime next week, but manager Mike Scioscia said the 26-year-old would likely throw just one inning in the appearance.

Richards threw a 41-pitch simulated game Tuesday, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports. Richards has hit every post on the road to recovering from knee surgery he underwent in August, but is not expected to pitch in his first Cactus League game until next week, at the earliest, meaning he will likely miss the first week or two of the regular season. The good news, however, is there has been no word of a decline in his stuff or intensity while on the mound, which could make him a nice discount pick if other prospective owners shy away because of the injury.

Richards (knee) went "full-out" in fielding and throwing drills Monday in advance of Tuesday's simulated game and did not appear to be favoring his gait, according to manager Mike Scioscia, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. He is getting very close to making a return to game action for the Angels during Cactus League play, and it is looking like there is a chance Richards may not miss a turn in the Angels' rotation to start the season, although he will not pitch Opening Day. Continue to monitor his status and continue to move him up draft boards.

Richards (Knee) threw live batting practice Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports. Richards threw 30 pitches in the session, marking his first action with live hitters since suffering a patellar tendon tear in August. He will take the hill again Tuesday for a 40-pitch outing, and could be in line to start his first game of the spring shortly afterwards if he can get through the day without complications.

Richards (knee) is expected to throw to live hitters as part of his next mound session, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. The right-hander took pitchers' fielding practice Wednesday for the first time since his late-August procedure, and will clear another major hurdle the next time he steps onto a mound. Most of the Angels' other starters have been throwing to hitters for several weeks now, and Richards is not expected to be ready to start the year, but he appears on track to return around mid-to-late April.

Richards took PFP on Thursday for the first time since suffering a patellar tendon tear in August, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. Richards continued his progress towards a return to the mound Thursday, as he said he had no issues going to first base, and threw another solid bullpen session. Richards will begin 2015 on the disabled list, but there doesn't seem to be any concern beyond the two or three weeks he is expected to miss to start the season.

Richards (knee) will not be ready for Opening Day, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports. Getting major-league ready by April 5 was likely a pipe dream, but it shouldn't hurt Richards' full season fantasy outlook too badly. The Angels' ace will likely miss a few starts but should be ready to go by mid-April barring any setbacks. The bigger issue is replicating his 0.3 home runs per nine innings from 2014, which is a major regression red flag due to only a good, not great, 50.9 percent groundball rate.