Gray (foot) did some running on the field Wednesday before Colorado's game with the Mariners, and he's scheduled to face hitters in a simulated game sometime next week, Nick Groke of The Denver Post reports.
The right-hander also has been running on a treadmill, but he'll soon ramp up his workouts by facing live batters during the Rockies' two-game home series with the Indians that starts Tuesday. When Gray returns -- likely before the end of June -- his owners will hope he can build on the 4.38 ERA and 6.6 K/9 from his small three-start sample. Manager Bud Black said the Rockies likely won't use a six-man rotation when Gray resurfaces, so there will probably be a job battle in the next few weeks.