The Associated Press

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Cleveland Indians reliever Bob Wickman will miss the first half of the season because of a sprained right elbow.

The 35-year-old right-hander, who had been expected to be the team's closer, had reconstructive elbow surgery in December 2002 and didn't pitch in the major leagues last season.

He will rest the elbow four to six weeks, then begin a throwing program lasting another six weeks, Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Thursday.

"I will pitch again," Wickman said. "My arm is just telling me now to take a break, to take a step back."

He pitched in four minor league games last August as part of his rehabilitation.

Wickman hopes to go on a minor league rehabilitation assignment in June, then rejoin the Indians after the All-Star break.

There is some tearing of the ligament, although the Indians "don't believe that tear to be a significant one," Soloff said. "We are optimistic Bob will be able to join the team for the second half of the season."

The Indians have three relief pitchers with previous major league experience in a closer's role: right-handers Jose Jimenez and David Riske and left-hander Scott Stewart. General manager Mark Shapiro said Riske will be given the first chance to close.

ATHLETICS: Tim Hudson will be Oakland's opening-day starter for the third time in the last four seasons.

Hudson will face the Texas Rangers on April 5, manager Ken Macha said Thursday. Hudson also got the opening-day assignment in 2001 and 2003.

The right-hander went 16-7 with 11 no-decisions last season, leading the A's with a career-best 2.70 ERA and 162 strikeouts. He is 80-33 over five major league seasons, teaming with Mark Mulder and Barry Zito to form one of the tougher rotations in baseball.

SHORT HOPS: In Port St. Lucie, Fla., Grant Roberts pitched five effective innings Thursday in the New York Mets' 7-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

• In Winter Haven, Fla., Zach Sorensen scored the winning run on a wild throw to first from Boston pitcher Anastacio Martinez in the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 10-9 win over the Red Sox.

•  In Jupiter, Fla., Woody Williams, recovering from tendinitis in his pitching shoulder, pitched a perfect inning in the St. Louis Cardinals' 7-1, split-squad win over the Montreal Expos.

• In Clearwater, Fla., Billy Wagner got into trouble, then pitched out of it to earn his first save of the spring in the Philadelphia Phillies' 8-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• In Peoria, Ariz., Freddy Garcia pitched four strong innings in the Seattle Mariners' 5-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

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