Kerry Wood and Mark Prior could start the season on the Chicago Cubs’ disabled list.

Wood, coming back from a torn right rotator cuff, threw 25 pitches off a mound Tuesday at the Cubs’ spring-training complex in Mesa, Ariz. On March 11, he strained his right triceps while pitching against Milwaukee, and it’s unclear whether he will be ready for the start of the season.

“Until we get him back out there and get him on a schedule, you just don’t know,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “Hopefully he could, but it has to work for the team and it has to be in his best interests.”

The 29-year-old Wood was just 1-2 with a 4.12 ERA last year and has a 12.00 ERA in three spring training appearances. If he’s on the active roster, it most likely would be as a one-inning reliever.

The 26-year-old Prior was 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA last year when his season was cut short by a strained right shoulder. He is 0-1 with an 18.90 ERA in two spring training appearances, allowing seven runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

“How many innings has he pitched?” manager Lou Piniella asked Monday. “You need 25 or so innings. In fairness to the person, is he going to be ready?”

In Tampa, Fla., the New York Yankees said Andy Pettitte is expected to miss his scheduled start for on Friday because of back spasms.

“I don’t anticipate it being a major problem,” manager Joe Torre said. “He just got a little tightness. It seems to be pretty straightforward.”

Pettitte first experienced the back problems while working out Monday, and his scheduled bullpen session Tuesday was canceled. Torre said that Pettitte should be ready for the start of the season if he is able to make a final spring training start next week.

“It kind of stiffened up after I got done,” Pettitte said. “I left here and I was like, “Don’t worry about it. I’m good.’ Then last night, my back just locked on me. I was still pretty locked up this morning. I loosened up a lot.”

In Vero Beach, Fla., manager Grady Little’s 2008 option was exercised by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who added a 2009 team option to his deal.

“Grady has shown invaluable leadership and proven that he understands what it takes to win,” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. “We have established a very strong relationship in a short amount of time, and I’m very pleased to know that he’ll continue to play an integral role in the future of this organization.”

The 57-year-old Little guided the Dodgers to an 88-74 record last season in his first year as their manager. Los Angeles won the NL wild card, then lost three straight to the New York Mets.

In Surprise, Ariz., Texas closer Eric Gagne pitched in a game for the first time this year and Barry Bonds hit his fifth home run.

Gagne pitched one inning, giving up a home run to Kevin Frandsen, in the Rangers’ 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants. The reliever, who signed a $6 million, one-year contract with Texas, is trying to return from elbow and back operations after being limited to 15 1-3 innings for the Los Angles Dodgers the last two years.

“Everything was good today – the fastball had life on it. I had good control. Even the curveball and changeup were good,” Gagne said. “I’m just trying to see where I am with my body. There is scar tissue in there.”

Bonds returned after a three-day break and went 1-for-3 with a 375-foot drive in the sixth off Akinori Otsuka that put the Giants ahead 2-1. Russ Ortiz, bidding to become the Giants’ No. 5 starter, gave up two runs and four hits in six innings.

with six strikeouts and one walk.

Nationals 3, Marlins 0

In Jupiter, Fla., Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez was taken out after the first inning because the team wanted to protect his strained right groin.

Pirates 3, Tigers 1

At Bradenton, Fla., Detroit starter Justin Verlander gave up three runs and five hits in four innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Last year’s AL Rookie of the Year has an 8.31 ERA, allowing 12 runs in 13 innings.

Devil Rays 7, Indians 0

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Tampa Bay said left-hander Scott Kazmir will make his second straight opening-day start, pitching at Yankee Stadium on April 2. Across the field, Indians manager Eric Wedge said Fausto Carmona will be his fifth starter because of the abdominal injury to Cliff Lee. Indians starter Jake Westbrook allowed seven runs and 11 hits in four innings.

Diamondbacks 8, Mariners 1

At Tucson, Ariz., Jeff Weaver gave up consecutive homers to Chris Young and Stephen Drew in a five-run first. In all, Weaver allowed six runs, seven hits and two walks in four innings. He has an 8.31 ERA.

Rockies 4, Cubs 2

At Tucson, Cubs closer Ryan Dempster returned to the mound for the first time in a week, pitching an inning and giving up a hit and a walk. Dempster had been bothered by shoulder spasms, which he described as a knot in the back of his right shoulder after his March 13 appearance against Arizona.

Athletics 5, White Sox 3

At Phoenix, Rich Harden struck out seven, walked two, allowed five hits and one run in five innings. The A’s said they plan to have shortstop Bobby Crosby in the lineup for his first spring training game Wednesday night against Kansas City in Surprise.

AP-ES-03-20-07 2129EDT