Cliff Lee (elbow) allowed three earned runs over four innings Wednesday at High-A Clearwater.

Lee needed just 32 pitches to get through the first three frames, fanning two and inducing six groundouts. He got knocked around a bit in the fourth inning, but some of the blame goes to the Clearwater defenders. The veteran left-hander is on track to return from the disabled list shortly after the All-Star beak. He's been out since mid-May because of an elbow strain.

Cliff Lee (elbow) will make his next minor league rehab start Wednesday with High-A Clearwater.

Lee was only able to throw two innings Sunday during his first rehab start because of rain, so he'll pitch on short rest. The southpaw remains on track to rejoin the Phillies shortly after the All-Star break.

Cliff Lee (elbow) threw two scoreless innings in his rehab debut Sunday at High-A Clearwater.

Lee was hoping to pitch three or four innings, but the game was cut short by rain. "I felt fine," Lee told reporters after his outing. "I threw two cutters and everything else was a fastball. You could see the weather coming, so I was trying to hurry." He should be back in the Phillies' starting rotation shortly after the All-Star break.

Cliff Lee (elbow) has been cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Sunday.

Lee will make his first start at High-A Clearwater. He threw 60 pitches over a three-inning simulated game on Tuesday and woke up Wednesday with no physical issues. The ace left-hander has been on the disabled list since mid-May because of a strained elbow. He should be back in the Phillies' rotation after the All-Star break.

Cliff Lee (elbow) is on track to begin a rehab assignment at High-A Clearwater on Sunday.

He'll officially be cleared if he wakes up with no discomfort on Wednesday, a day after throwing a 60-pitch live batting practice session. Lee has been sidelined since mid-May with a flexor strain in his left elbow but should rejoin the Phillies' rotation in a couple weeks if he can avoid setbacks.

Cliff Lee (elbow) threw 60 pitches to live hitters on Tuesday afternoon and felt fine.

Lee could be cleared for a minor league rehab assignment if he wakes up with no abnormal discomfort on Wednesday. The veteran left-hander is expected to rejoin the Phillies' starting rotation after the All-Star break and he could be a big target for contending teams at the July 31 trade deadline.

Cliff Lee (elbow) threw a successful simulated game on Friday.

It came after he threw a handful of bullpen sessions with no issues. Lee is expected to throw another simulated game before being cleared for a rehab assignment. Although the left-hander has said he still feels a little something in his elbow, it doesn't sound like it's going to keep him from rejoining the Phillies' rotation sometime next month.

Cliff Lee (elbow) threw a successful 40-45 pitch bullpen session Tuesday.

"No bad news," Lee said. "Feel fine. There's still barely something there, but it's not getting any worse. It's continuing to get better. I continue to do more and it's not going backwards, so that's a good thing." Lee will next throw a simulated game on Friday or Saturday. The lefty thinks it's possible that he could return before the All-Star break, but the July 18-20 series in Atlanta immediately after the break is probably more likely.

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.

Phillies placed LHP Cliff Lee on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 19, with a Grade 1/2 flexor strain of his left elbow.

The diagnosis certainly could have been worse, and the Phillies are hopeful that Lee will be ready to go when his 15 days are up (though it's hardly a given). The veteran left-hander will be shut down for the next week before attempting to resume a throwing program. The Phillies haven't announced who will take Lee's rotation spot on Saturday.

Cliff Lee will be placed on the disabled list after an MRI revealed a Grade 1/2 strain of his left elbow.

"It's pretty mild," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said. "But it is a strain and we want to be careful." It could have been much worse, but it's worrisome anytime there's a strain in the elbow. The club is hoping that Lee will need a minimal stay on the disabled list, but it's far from a given. The veteran lefty holds a 3.18 ERA over 10 starts this season.