ATLANTACliff Lee is on target to return to the Phillies starting pitching rotation sometime next week.Lee, out since straining his left oblique muscle on April 18, threw a pain-free bullpen session at Turner Field on Wednesday. He said the plan was to throw one more bullpen session over the weekend then rejoin the rotation next week. Kyle Kendrick has been pitching in Lees spot. Kendricks turn comes up Friday in Washington then Wednesday at home against the Mets. Lee could slide in there if all continues to go well.Lee said he felt nothing while throwing.Its slowly gotten better, but the last two days have been drastically better, he said. There are a couple of exercises where I barely feel it, but nothing when I throw. Its pretty safe to say its done.Lee said he would wait to see how he felt Thursday before determining when his next bullpen session would be.In other injury news, Jim Thome was placed on the disabled list with a back strain (see story). He has already reported to Clearwater for rehab. When hes healthy, he will take at-bats in extended spring training games. Thome was 2 for 18 with 10 strikeouts before going on the DL. Phillies officials hope some concentrated at-bats will help Thomes timing at the plate. If Thome can get his swing down, he could be valuable as a designated hitter when the Phils play nine interleague games on the road in mid-June.Catcher Eric Kratz replaced Thome on the roster.On the minor-league health front, Domonic Brown strained his left hamstring in Lehigh Valleys game on Wednesday. He is day to day.Also, pitching prospect Jesse Biddle took a liner off his left forearm while pitching for Clearwater on Tuesday night. He was removed from the game for precautionary reasons. Team officials say he is fine. E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.