MIAMIThe Phillies come back from the all-star break in 13 days.
Roy Halladay believes he could be ready to rejoin the starting pitching rotation around that time.
Id like to be back as soon after the all-star break as I can, he said after his latest throwing session Sunday morning. Everything is going really good.
Halladay last pitched on May 27 in St. Louis and left that game after two innings. He was diagnosed with a strained lat muscle behind his right shoulder the next day. Initial medical estimates had him sidelined for six to eight weeks. The start of the all-star break next Sunday will mark six weeks since he was sidelined.
Halladay has thrown one bullpen session since going down33 pitches on Fridayand he plans to throw another one Tuesday or Wednesday in New York. He could simulate some inning breaksups and downsin that bullpen session. He threw on flat ground Sunday.
There will be no all-star break for Halladay. He plans to continue his workouts in Clearwater during that time. The Phillies have plenty of minor-leaguers in Clearwater so Halladay could throw to some hitters if he wanted. He was unsure whether hed require a minor-league start before being activated.
Halladay said he has no symptoms and the strength in his lat muscle is real good.
MLB
Its felt really good, he said. Theres no soreness. Now its just about getting pitches back up and getting my pitch count up.
The Phillies rotation could use Halladay. Since he went down, Phillies starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 5.11, the 24th worst in the majors entering Sunday.
Cliff Lee has really struggled. He went 0-3 with a 6.12 ERA in five starts in June and opponents hit .311. Lee says hes healthy. Pitching coach Rich Dubee has declined to discuss Lees problems, but the two spent significant time working on mechanics in the bullpen Sunday morning.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com