Cliff Lee (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen another session Tuesday. Lee, out for a month with a flexor strain in his elbow, hasn't had any setbacks since he resumed mound-work last week. If all goes well Tuesday, he'll progress to a simulated game Saturday. As of now, a return around the All-Star break appears possible.

Cliff Lee (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Friday and said he felt good. Lee continues to make slow-but-steady progress from a flexor strain in his left elbow. If all goes well, he has a chance to rejoin the Phillies' rotation just before the All-Star break. He obviously still has some hurdles to cross in order to meet his goal.

Cliff Lee (elbow) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session at "max effort" on Tuesday afternoon. It was his first time on a mound since landing on the disabled list in May with a flexor strain in his left elbow. Lee should be back in July if all goes well, and he'll be a candidate to be moved before the trade deadline.

Cliff Lee (elbow) played catch on Tuesday. It's the first time he's thrown in three weeks after he was shut down with a left elbow strain. Lee noted that he felt minimal soreness while playing catch, so he's not 100 percent yet but is coming along. It's not clear when the veteran left-hander will be cleared to resume throwing off a mound.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said Tuesday that Cliff Lee (elbow) is "very close to picking up a ball." Lee has been shut down since May 19 because of a left elbow strain and is likely at least a month away from being an option for the Phillies' starting rotation. If the veteran left-hander can make it back before the July 31 trade deadline, he will be a prime candidate to be moved. As it stands, there's no timetable for his return.

Cliff Lee, who has been on the DL since May 19 with a strained elbow, is hopeful that he can begin a throwing program on the road with the team this week. Lee said he's still feeling some discomfort. "It's still there a little bit," Lee said Monday, but "it's getting better." Lee plans on joining the Phillies as they begin a six-game road trip through Washington and Cincinnati. He hopes to start a throwing program during this time. Manager Ryne Sandberg said, in reference to the possibility of Lee getting it going during this trip, "it's possible." There's still no concrete timetable here (the team had hoped he would be able to start a throwing program last week, too), but it's good to hear that the elbow's starting to feel better, even if it's not completely there.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said Thursday that Cliff Lee (elbow) is about a week away from resuming throwing. Lee has been re-evaluated twice this week but hasn't made the necessary improvement to pick up a ball again. "He's going through some strength tests," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Just has a little slight sensation left. So he'll be evaluated daily to see how that changes. No throwing yet. In the meantime, he's getting lower body work and he's getting his running in."

Cliff Lee (elbow) still hasn't been cleared to resume throwing. We heard the same diagnosis on Monday, but apparently no improvement was found when Lee was reevaluated Thursday. There's no timetable for his return.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said Tuesday that he has "no idea" when Cliff Lee (elbow) will be ready to pitch. Lee was re-evaluated Monday and it was determined that he wasn't ready to resume throwing yet. "It could be up to a month, it could be a month and a half, it could be three weeks," Amaro said. "I have no idea when the guy is going to be ready to pitch. I really don't. I would think it be sooner rather than later, but I have no timetable until he's up and throwing again."

Cliff Lee (elbow) was evaluated by Phillies' medical personnel on Monday and hasn't been cleared to resume throwing. The plan calls for him to be reevaluated in three days. Lee was diagnosed with a Grade 1/2 flexor strain of his left elbow earlier this month and there's no clear timetable for his return.