The Angels have confirmed that Joel Pineiro (shoulder) will be activated from the disabled list to start Saturday.

Pineiro is totally over the shoulder stiffness that forced him to the DL to start the season, and he didn't give up an earned run over 5 2/3 innings in his rehab start. He'll go up against the Rays in his 2011 debut.

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday before being reevaluated Thursday.

Assuming he looks fine Wednesday, Pineiro is expected to be activated from the disabled list to start on Saturday against the Rays. Matt Palmer will be bumped from the rotation with Pineiro's return.

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) allowed three unearned runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings Monday in his latest minor league rehab start with High-A Inland Empire.

He threw 71 pitches while striking out two and walking two. There's a chance the Angels could activate him from the disabled list for a start this weekend. If not, he'll be back in the first week of May.

The Angels could decide after Joel Pineiro's (shoulder) Monday rehab outing for Single-A Inland Empire that he's ready to make his 2011 debut.

Pineiro will be limited to 60-to-70 pitches on Monday in what will be his first rehab outing following a spring full of simulated games and extended spring training appearances. More than likely, the Angels will decide he needs one more start down on the farm, pushing his 2011 debut to early May.

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) will make a rehab appearance Sunday at Single-A Inland Empire.

Pineiro tossed three innings earlier this week in an extended spring training game. He should be ready to return to the Angels' rotation by the first week of May.

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) will throw three innings Wednesday in an extended spring training game.

Pineiro has been held to bullpen sessions until now, but he's finally ready for game action. Barring any setbacks, look for him to return in early-May.

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) will pitch in a simulated game next week.

A report Thursday indicated the simulated game would come over the weekend, but evidently it will be a few days after that. Pineiro hopes to be back "in the last week of April or first week of May. I haven't had a setback. I think they're just babying it a little, to make sure I'm taking it easy."

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a simulated game this weekend.

Pineiro has been sidelined since the final week of March due to tightness in his right shoulder-blade area. Barring any setbacks this weekend, he will likely go out on a rehab assignment. We're expecting him to return by the end of April or the early part of May.

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) threw with "maximum" effort during a 35-pitch bullpen session Saturday.

He'll have one more bullpen session -- either on Monday or Tuesday -- before going out on a rehab assignment by next weekend. "This was a step in the right direction," Pineiro said. "I feel good. Right now, it's a matter of building up arm strength." Pineiro will need at least two rehab starts, so he won't be back before the end of the month, at the earliest.

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) has begun throwing off flat ground.

Pineiro was limited to long toss until recently. He will be re-examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum this weekend before being cleared to throw off a mound. Because Pineiro remains sidelined, the Angels will need to add a fifth starter for next Tuesday's game against the Indians.

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) will throw long toss off flat ground Tuesday before the Angels decide the next course of action with him.

Pineiro had his shoulder stiffen up on him during a bullpen session Thursday and obviously won't be able to make his season debut on April 8 as originally planned. "We want him in the rotation. He's important to us," manager Mike Scioscia said. "But right now we've got a little bit of time to make sure that he's sound when he takes the ball." Scioscia added, "We don't think it's going to be a huge setback. We do have some wiggle room to where we can move some things around." Matt Palmer or Trevor Bell will fill Pineiro's spot in the rotation.

Joel Pineiro (back/shoulder) has had a setback and won't pitch in a minor league game Sunday or be ready for his scheduled start on April 8.

Tough break. It's not clear at this point how far this will set the right-hander back, but the Angels will probably take it easy with him. Matt Palmer or Trevor Bell would be the choices as possible replacements for Pineiro in the rotation, though manager Mike Scioscia has yet to address the issue.

Angels placed RHP Joel Pineiro on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 22, with right shoulder tightness.

Pineiro gave the Angels quite a scare when he left a start last Sunday with tightness in his shoulder, but he threw 59 pitches in a minor league game Tuesday without any issues. Barring any setbacks during another minor league game Saturday, he'll start the Angels' home opener next Friday.

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) threw 59 pitches in four innings of a minor league game Tuesday in Arizona and "felt great" according to Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

Pineiro will begin the season on the disabled list because of tightness in his right shoulder-blade area, but he's quickly making progress. The right-hander is scheduled to make another start Saturday in Arizona, and assuming all goes well, he will start the Angels' home opener next Friday against the Blue Jays.

Joel Pineiro (shoulder) reported feeling far better when he arrived at Angels camp Monday.

The right-hander was pulled from a Triple-A start over the weekend due to tightness in the back of his shoulder, but he told the Orange County-Register's Bill Plunket that it was more of "a cramp" than anything. He's not in danger of missing the start of the regular season.

Joel Pineiro was forced from his start in a Triple-A game Sunday with tightness in the back of his shoulder.

The Angels have little in the way of starting pitching depth and can scarcely afford to lose Pineiro to a significant injury again this year. If he starts off on the DL, then Trevor Bell would likely replace him in the rotation.

Joel Pineiro was knocked around by the Padres Tuesday, giving up four runs on eight hits and a walk over four innings.

He did strike out five batters, but serving up a pair of two-run homers (one to Eric Patterson, one to Ryan Ludwick) did him in. Pineiro had been terrific this spring up to this point, giving up only one run over his first nine innings, so there's no reason to worry about today's struggles. The righty will enter the season as the Angels' No. 4 starter.

Joel Pineiro held the Royals to one run on four hits over four innings Thursday.

He struck out two and got twice as many groundouts (six) as flyouts (three), but it is worth noting that he was going up against a split-squad Royals lineup. Still, Pineiro has been nails so far this spring, giving up only the one run over nine innings of work.

Joel Pineiro tossed three shutout innings on two hits Saturday against the Brewers.

He didn't pick up any strikeouts but also didn't walk anyone, erasing one of the hits he gave up by inducing a double-play ball. Pineiro is coming off an injury-shortened but impressive 2010 season that saw him post a 3.84 ERA in 23 starts.

Joel Pineiro pitched seven innings of one-run ball Wednesday in a no-decision against the A's.

Just no luck for Pineiro, who allowed a total of four runs in his final three starts but didn't figure into the decision in any of them. He ends the year having gone 10-7 with a 3.84 ERA in 23 starts. Even with the oblique injury that cost him so much time, he gave the Angels a fair return in the first season of a two-year, $16 million contract.