Cliff Lee is coming back. Chase Utley still needs a few weeks, hopefully.
Lee, who has been on the disabled list since April 19 with a strained oblique, threw a bullpen session this past Saturday and didn’t feel any pain. Lee will return to his spot in the rotation Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Utley visited the Phillies’ clubhouse during the weekend. He’ll eventually report to Florida for a rehab assignment. When?
“Once my body tells me it’s ready to go 100 percent, that’s when I’m going to go down to Clearwater,” Utley said.
Utley, who is on the DL with chondromalacia in his left knee, spent the past month working with a physical therapist in Phoenix. Utley said he doesn’t feel any pain when he swings a bat, but he’s not quite comfortable playing the field right now. He’ll stay with the Phillies and continue to take ground balls until he’s healthy enough for Clearwater.
“I was doing some baseball things in Arizona, but there’s nothing like being with the team and on the field on a daily basis,” Utley said.
