Jose Contreras (elbow) is scheduled to fly to Los Angeles to visit specialist Lewis Yocum this week.

Contreras has been shut down after experiencing more problems with his forearm. SI.com's Will Carroll reported Sunday that Contreras' setback could put his season in jeopardy. Contreras has been out since mid-June with a forearm injury.

SI.com's Will Carroll reports that Jose Contreras' recent setback could put his season in jeopardy.

Carroll is a terrific injury analyst, but he typically doesn't break stories, so we'll wait for confirmation elsewhere before etching this one in stone. Contreras has been out since mid-June with a forearm injury and has been shut down after the recent setback.

Jose Contreras has been shut down after experiencing more problems with his forearm.

Contreras will get a second opinion in Los Angeles this week. The Phillies were hoping he'd be ready to return possibly by the end of the month, but that's surely out the window now. We'll update his condition when more information becomes available.

Jose Contreras (forearm) is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Contreras was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday morning after suffering a right forearm strain over the weekend. The Phillies are sure to seek out middle relief help in the coming weeks.

Phillies placed RHP Jose Contreras on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 20, with a right forearm strain.

An expected move, as Contreras was unavailable for Wednesday's game. The veteran right-hander has a 9.00 ERA and 4/4 K/BB ratio over six innings since returning from a right flexor pronator strain in late-May, so he's obviously not 100 percent. Look for the Phillies to be on the hunt for relief help before the deadline.

Jose Contreras yielded one run on two hits over 2/3 innings against the Cubs on Thursday.

The run proved to be costly, as Chicago tied the game an inning later and went on to win in 11 innings. After maintaining a 0.00 ERA in his first 12 relief appearances, Contreras has surrendered an earned run in each of his last two efforts.

Phillies activated RHP Jose Contreras from the 15-day disabled list.

As expected. Contreras served as the closer prior to going on the disabled list, but he'll return to a set-up now that Ryan Madson has established himself in the role. The veteran right-hander has been sidelined since April 21 with a flexor pronator strain in his right elbow.

Jose Contreras (elbow) will likely be activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to Wednesday's game, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Gelb speculates that David Herndon will be sent down to make room on the roster. Contreras tossed two scoreless innings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday in what was likely his last rehab outing. Contreras served as the team's closer earlier this season, but after missing three weeks he'll return as a setup man thanks to new closer Ryan Madson's success in the ninth inning. Madson is 9-for-9 converting saves with a 0.47 ERA, so Contreras would need him to implode a few times to have any chance at closing in the near future.

Jose Contreras (elbow) pitched two scoreless rehab innings Tuesday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The veteran right-hander has been sidelined since April 21 with a flexor pronator strain in his right elbow. He will be activated from the disabled list in the next couple days and take a setup role to new closer Ryan Madson.

Jose Contreras (elbow) could be activated from the disabled list Tuesday.

Contreras is slated to make his final minor league rehab appearance Monday night with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Some reports have suggested the Phillies could wait until Wednesday, but it's clear he will be back soon enough. The veteran right-hander has been sidelined since April 21 with a flexor pronator strain in his right elbow.

Jose Contreras (elbow) could be activated from the disabled list by the end of the weekend.

Contreras was knocked around in his first rehab appearance Wednesday, but he'll make another one Saturday, and if he comes out of it OK, it sounds like he could be activated Sunday. He seems likely to go back to a setup role with Ryan Madson settling into the closer gig.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Monday that Jose Contreras (elbow) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Wednesday with High-A Clearwater.

We previously heard that Contreras would be pitching with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but there was apparently a change of plans. The Phillies originally estimated that Contreras would miss about 3-4 weeks, so we'll probably see him back with the big club before the end of the month.

Jose Contreras (elbow) could resume throwing "around" May 5.

That jibes with what the Phillies said earlier this week. However, even if Contreras begins throwing within the next seven dsays, he's still likely to be sidelined until at least late May. If Ryan Madson is cruising along in the ninth inning at that point, Contreras is not likely to regain closing duties.

Jose Contreras has a Grade 1 strain of his right flexor pronator strain and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks of action, according to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro.

A Grade 1 strain is the least severe, but it will still cost Contreras more than the minimum stint on the disabled list. He'll be shut down for 10 days before presumably starting his rehab. Ryan Madson will continue to close while Contreras is out.

Jose Contreras (elbow) was examined in Philadelphia on Monday and showed less severe symptoms.

Good news, but he will still undergo an MRI on Tuesday. There's no current timetable for his return, so Ryan Madson will handle save chances for the foreseeable future.

Phillies placed RHP Jose Contreras on the 15-day disabled list with a right flexor pronator strain.

The right flexor pronator tendon is located on the inside part of his pitching elbow, which has the team concerned. "Yeah, I'm alarmed," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "Anytime a guy goes on the DL it bothers me. Hopefully it isn't serious. He's sore. He was a little better yesterday and a little more sore today. Hopefully we'll have good news." There is no current timetable for his return. Contreras is headed back to Philadelphia for an examination by the team doctor. An MRI is also possible. Ryan Madson has been named the team's closer. If he's available in your league, run to your waiver wire and grab him.

Jose Contreras is headed to the disabled list with a right flexor pronator strain, reports MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.

Contreras is headed back to Philadelphia for a possible MRI. There is no current time table for his return. With Brad Lidge likely out until June, this is the last thing the Phillies' bullpen needed. Antonio Bastardo earned his first save of the season Sunday in a win over the Padres and should be owned in deeper leagues. Ryan Madson has pitched well this year and has two saves of his own, but he has had difficulty closing in the past. Philadelphia will call up pitcher Michael Stutes to take Contreras' place on the roster.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Jose Contreras was given two nights in a row off because he had thrown 72 pitches in four appearances from April 17-21.

"Contreras is OK," Manuel said. "He'll be ready to pitch [Sunday]." It's safe to assume that Contreras is still the Phillies closer, but it looks like Ryan Madson, who picked up his second straight save Saturday, will be used on occasion to give Contreras some rest. Ideally, if you own Contreras, you will roster Madson, as well.

Jose Contreras was given a second straight day off Saturday, allowing Ryan Madson to pick up his second save against the Padres.

Madson pitched a scoreless 11th, giving him back-to-back saves with Contreras absent. It was no surprise that Contreras had Friday off, given that he had pitched two straight days and four of the last five. Expectations were that he would be back out there tonight. Either the Phillies are just being extra cautious with him -- which isn't a bad idea -- or there's a physical issue yet to be disclosed.

Jose Contreras walked two batters in the ninth inning on Sunday, but still earned his third save in the Phillies' 3-2 win Sunday over the Marlins.

It was an unusually shaky appearance for the veteran pitcher, who has a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in five relief innings this season. He also is 3-for-3 in save opportunities.