Phillies right-hander Roy Oswalt, who hasnt pitched in more than a month because of bulging discs in his back, is set to make his first minor-league rehab stint on Wednesday, Phillies Assistant General Manager Scott Proefrock said Sunday, before the Phillies-Padres game at Citizens Bank Park.
Oswalt hasnt pitched since complaining of back discomfort after a two-inning, four-run stint against the Cards in St. Louis on June 23. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list the next day.
Proefrock said Oswalt will pitch Wednesday for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, who are scheduled to face the Pawtucket Red Sox at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pa.
Oswalt, who turns 34 next month, was 4-6 with a 3.79 ERA in 13 starts before going on the disabled list. After opening the season with a 2.70 ERA in his first nine starts, he allowed 17 earned runs and 32 hits in 26 13 innings in his last four starts -- a 5.81 ERA and 1-4 record during that span.
During his stay on the DL, Oswalt has undergone treatment with both anti-inflammatory injections and strengthening exercises.
Oswalt was 7-1 with a 1.74 in 12 starts after the Phillies acquired him from the Astros a year ago.
In Oswalts absence, 23-year-old rookie righty Vance Worley has emerged as an effective big-league starter, going 6-1 with a 2.02 ERA in 10 starts. Since Oswalt last pitched, Worley is 4-0 and has allowed only three earned runs and 16 hits in five starts in 33 13 innings for 0.81 ERA.
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Proefrock wouldnt speculate on how many rehab outings Oswalt might need before being activated but he said it would be far fewer than Brad Lidges eight, who missed the entire preseason. Most likely, if all goes well, the Phillies would activate Oswalt in early August after three or four rehab stints.
Polanco improving
Proefrock also said All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco, who is also rehabbing a back injury and had a cortisone shot last week, continues to improve.
The injection has had some positive effects, and he might not be far behind Roy as far as getting out on a rehab assignment, Proefrock said.
Polanco hit .398 in April but was just 47-for-218 since May 1, a .216 average and had no RBI base hits in his last 20 games -- since June 20. Nonetheless, he was picked to the National League All-Star team but did not play.
With Polanco out, surprising rookie Michael Martinez has played well at third. Although hes only hitting .235 overall, hes at .294 in July on 15-for-51 with 15 RBIs in 14 games.
Proefrock said Martinezs breakthrough month means that even if Polanco is unable to return, theres less urgency for the Phillies to go out and get a third baseman before the trade deadline.
The way Michael Martinez has played -- and we have Wilson Valdez as well -- even if Polly is out for a more extended time, Im not sure wed put that as a huge need, he said.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow him on Twitter @RoobCSN.