Miller, who had to make changes in his delivery or face career-threatening surgery on his right middle finger, will throw 35 pitches in a bullpen session today in Goodyear, Ariz.

"If all goes well, he's scheduled to start throwing batting practice sessions Monday and Friday next week," said Indians head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff. "It will be a progression in intensity and volume."

It would be the first time Miller has faced hitters since he had to stop throwing because of stiffness in the finger in late March.

Miller, a longtime Indians prospect, came to spring training with a great chance to make the bullpen. But he had to stop throwing twice because of his finger. Miller underwent surgery on the finger last year to close a hole in the skin and re-attach a tendon to the bone.

After being examined by two hand specialists in March, it was determined that Miller would have to undergo a second surgery on the finger - one that might threaten his career - or try to change his release point.

The pitcher, who at one time hit 100 mph in the minors, used to let the ball go off his injured finger.

"He's compensated," said Soloff, "and all indications are that he's effective as well."

Terrible news: Manager Eric Wedge, when he heard about the death of 22-year-old Angels starter Nick Adenhart, said: "It's horrible. That's the only word I can think of. The next think I think about are his parents and family."

Adenhart and two other people were killed in California on Thursday morning when a minivan ran a red light and struck the car in which they were riding. Adenhart, who pitched against the Indians in spring training, had thrown six scoreless innings against Oakland a few hours earlier.

"It shouldn't take a great deal to have perspective in this game," said Wedge, "but when things like that happen, it sure does bring you back to earth."

Before the Indians played the Rangers on Thursday, there was a moment of silence for Adenhart. There will be one today before the Indians play Toronto in the home opener at Progressive Field.

The Angels postponed their game Thursday night against Oakland.

Get off the mound: Fausto Carmona did not have a great game pitching or fielding Wednesday. He gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings and made fielding mistakes in the second and fifth innings.

Carmona didn't cover first base in the second on Elvis Andrus' single to Ryan Garko at first. Andrus beat Garko to the bag as a run scored.

"That wasn't Ryan's fault," said Wedge, "Fausto has to get off the mound and cover first."

In the fifth, with runners on first and third, Carmona grabbed a bouncer back to the mound, but forgot to look the runner back to third. After stopping between third and home, Josh Hamilton scored when Carmona threw to second.

Finally: Rookie Trevor Crowe made his big-league debut in right field Thursday. His parents, David and Terryl, were at the game to see it. Crowe went 0-for-5 in the Tribe's 12-8 loss. "I wasn't that nervous," said Crowe. "I just wish we could have come out with a win."