Notes: Rendon iffy for Angels' Opening Day

ANAHEIM -- Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon is dealing with oblique tightness stemming from a swing in the fourth inning of Wednesday’s intrasquad game and his status for Opening Day is in question. Angels manager Joe Maddon said Saturday he believes there’s a chance Rendon will be ready, but he couldn’t say for sure.

Rendon, signed to a seven-year deal before the season, was held out of Friday’s intrasquad game and wasn’t in the lineup on Saturday, either. Rendon is downplaying the injury but Maddon said oblique injuries can be tricky, so all the Angels can do is hope Rendon is ready for the regular-season opener on Friday in Oakland.

“I really don't have any idea,” Maddon said. “From his mouth, he says he’s actually pretty good, but you don't know with something like this. When I hear these things, day to day, you just be patient. And I don't even want to create conjecture because I really don't know. I want to believe he's gonna be ready but if not, we're gonna have to have a 'Plan B' ready.”

That Plan B appears to be David Fletcher, who would start at third base until Rendon is ready. He started at third on Friday and has plenty of experience at the position. A’s right-hander Frankie Montas was named the club’s Opening Day starter on Saturday, and the Angels could start Tommy La Stella at second and Fletcher at third if Rendon isn’t ready to go.

Teheran cleared for workouts
Right-hander Julio Teheran, who arrived to Angels camp on Friday, was cleared to begin team workouts on Saturday. Teheran had a meeting with pitching coach Mickey Callaway and the Angels should have a clearer view of how close Teheran is to be being stretched out in the next few days. Once Teheran is ready, he’ll join the rotation.

“I think probably by tomorrow or the next day, we should have a pretty good idea where he's at and be able to have a solid plan built,” Maddon said. “I talked to him yesterday in the parking lot. He’s very eager, looks great, ready to go. But he's got to get together with Mickey and map something out and once we have something mapped out, I'll let you guys know."

Goodwin fine, Rengifo dealing with hamstring tightness
Right fielder Brian Goodwin fouled a ball off his right leg in Friday’s intrasquad game but Maddon said Goodwin gave him the thumbs up on Saturday and is ready to go. Goodwin remains on track to be the club’s starting right fielder with Fletcher and Michael Hermosillo serving as the backups.

Infielder Luis Rengifo was a late arrival to camp on Wednesday and felt some hamstring tightness on Friday. Rengifo had a strong shot of making the roster as a backup infielder and will undergo more testing.

“He had a little bit of a hammy tightness yesterday that we have to look at,” Maddon said. “But again, that's another one of those things where he just walked in the doors, so we'll see where that’s at. But this guy's really interesting. And when we're writing down different lineups against righties and lefties you put his name in there often.”

Heaney dealing with back stiffness
Left-hander Andrew Heaney, scheduled to be the Angels’ Opening Day starter in Oakland on Friday, woke up with back stiffness and got his work in with an extended bullpen session instead of pitching in Saturday’s intrasquad game at Angel Stadium. General manager Billy Eppler said Saturday that Heaney remains in line to start Friday.

Angels tidbits
• Top prospect Jo Adell has had a couple issues defensively in right field but Maddon said he’s not concerned about it. He said the right-field corner can be tricky at Angel Stadium, so Adell simply needs more reps there. Maddon has asked first-base coach and outfield coordinator Jesus Feliciano to create drills in the right-field corner to help Adell and other younger outfielders get used to it.

• Outfielder Taylor Ward has added to his versatility, as he made an appearance at catcher this week, which was his former position before being converted to third base and later the outfield. Ward could serve as an emergency catcher, if needed, but Maddon doesn’t see him returning to full-time catching.

• Right-hander Parker Markel, who was placed on the 10-day injured list for undisclosed reasons on Tuesday, has not arrived back in camp. He was originally in camp before being placed on the IL.