Left-handed reliever Alex Claudio dealt with a right hip infection early in camp, but said Tuesday that he expects to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Claudio, who signed a one-year deal worth $1.125 million this offseason, made his Cactus League debut on Saturday, throwing a scoreless inning. He followed up his scoreless outing with another clean inning during Tuesday's 17-8 win against Cleveland.

He said he wasn¡¯t sure how the hip infection started, but that he feels healthy now.

¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a big problem,¡± Claudio said through an interpreter. ¡°It was only a week that I was late. After that, I started throwing bullpens and everything felt good in my first outing, so I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be a problem.¡±

Claudio, though, hopes to be a problem for opposing batters, especially left-handers. Claudio, 29, posted a 4.26 ERA in 19 innings with the Brewers last season, and was a workhorse in '19, leading the National League with 83 appearances, while posting a 4.06 ERA in 62 innings.

He's held lefties to a .202/.246/.310 slash line in his seven-year career, but right-handers have batted .305/.356/.442. Angels manager Joe Maddon, though, pointed out that Claudio has gotten better at facing right-handers in recent years and trusts him facing hitters from both sides of the plate.

¡°There¡¯s not one left-handed hitter in baseball who says that ¡®I hope Claudio gets in the game,¡¯¡± Maddon said. ¡°And even righties don¡¯t like it because it can throw you into a funk. It¡¯s almost like a knuckleball.¡±

Claudio has plenty of deception in his delivery, and he¡¯s been one of the toughest pitchers to square up in recent years, as he consistently induces low exit velocities from opposing hitters despite having a fastball that averaged only 85.8 mph last year.

"I believe it's my location," Claudio said. "Keeping the ball down in the zone, mixing up my pitches. I don't really think about contact. I just think about going out there and throwing strikes."

Maddon launches Read 15 program
Maddon, in partnership with his foundation, Respect 90, launched a reading program called Read 15, which encourages students to read a book for 15 minutes a night. Maddon also partnered with Rawlings, which will produce leather bookmarks for anyone who registers at Respect90.org/Read15 and reads five books.

"If you read for 15 minutes a night, it expands your horizons and turns you into a different person and encourages you to think in areas that you haven't before," Maddon said. "¡°There¡¯s nothing more educational than sitting down with a good book and getting away from all this electronic noise. That is not old school. That¡¯s not me being 67. That¡¯s none of that. It¡¯s just something that I think creates a more complete person.¡±

Angels tidbits
? Right-handed reliever Junior Guerra was added to the 40-man roster, which essentially means he¡¯ll make the Opening Day roster. Outfield prospect Brandon Marsh was optioned, and is expected to start the season at the club¡¯s alternate training site.

? Right-hander F¨¦lix Pe?a underwent an MRI exam after exiting Monday's game with right hamstring irritation. Maddon said that head athletic trainer Adam Nevela believes it's a minor injury, but they are being cautious with the MRI exam.

? Left fielder Justin Upton returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing Monday¡¯s game with a non-COVID-related illness.