Slowed by forearm tightness for much of the spring, Antonio Bastardo said he "finally had some life in his arm" against the Yankees on Friday.

Bastardo through a perfect 1 1/3 innings, sending down Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez in order. He'll pitch again on Saturday.

Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said Tuesday that he has some "mild concern" about Antonio Bastardo's lack of velocity this spring.

Bastardo hasn't shown any signs of improvement after taking a week off due to forearm tightness, something the Phillies said was caused by dehydration. "I'm not seeing velocity like I should be seeing," said Dubee. "But at the same time, I think we've got that disease going through our camp where we've got a lot of dead arms right now. That happens a lot." Bastardo topped out at 91 mph with his fastball during an appearance on Sunday after averaging 92.5 mph with his heater last season. The Phillies have maintained that there isn't any structural damage with his forearm, so the cause for the diminished velocity remains a mystery.

Antonio Bastardo said Thursday that his decreased velocity this spring is a result of tightness in his muscles.

The Phillies believe it's due to dehydration and have sent him for testing to determine ways to alleviate the issue. Bastardo hasn't pitched since Sunday and isn't scheduled to make his next appearance until Saturday. The 26-year-old left-hander emerged as a dominant set-up man last season, posting a 2.64 ERA and 70/26 K/BB ratio over 58 innings.

Antonio Bastardo threw a scoreless 2/3 inning in the Phillies' NLDS Game 2 loss to the Cardinals.

Bastardo walked a batter, but he also recorded a strikeout. The 26-year-old struggled mightily in September after an impressive run during the summer. He's a bit of a wild card in this five-game divisional series.

Antonino Bastardo's struggles continued on Sunday, as he recorded only one out while surrendering three runs on three hits and two walks.

Bastardo took the mound with a 9-0 lead in the seventh inning -- a spot normally reserved for low-end middle relievers -- to try to regain his groove against the bottom half of the Mets' batting order. After striking out the leadoff hitter, he came completely undone, and finally was pulled after throwing a wild pitch and walking Jose Reyes. Bastardo's ERA has nearly doubled this month, having yielded nine earned runs in his last 3 2/3 innings.

Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said Friday that Antonio Bastardo has been tipping his pitches recently.

Bastardo was untouchable for most of the season, but has allowed six runs on six hits and five walks over six innings this month. Dubee said it was an "easy fix," so we'll have to see if the changes will lead to better results.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel doesn't believe Antonio Bastardo's recent struggles are due to fatigue.

"I think he has to cut the ball loose a little bit better and be a little bit more aggressive," Manuel said. "I just think it's a matter of him getting out there and getting sharp again. It's a long season." Bastardo has walked five batters and allowed three hits while recording just four outs over his past four appearances.

With Ryan Madson resting, Antonio Bastardo blew a save in Sunday's loss to the Nationals.

Madson pitched on Wednesday and Thursday before getting lit up by the Nats on Friday. So Bastardo came in today to try to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning, but gave up a game-tying solo homer to Ian Desmond. Brad Lidge then lost the game in the bottom of the tenth. Madson's job is secure.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel indicated Wednesday that Antonio Bastardo could keep his closer job indefinitely.

"Bastardo might be able to do whatever he wants to do with the way he's been," Manuel said. David Hale of The News Journal writes that Manuel is "definitely hedging his bets" as far as when Ryan Madson will regain the closer job. We expect Madson to eventually get his gig back, but perhaps it will take longer than initially anticipated. Bastardo holds a 0.99 ERA and 0.74 WHIP on the season.

Antonio Bastardo pitched a perfect inning Tuesday against the Cubs, striking out all three batters he faced, for his seventh save.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel wants to ease Ryan Madson back into the closer's role but Bastardo is making it difficult on him to make a change. He's allowed just one run in 18 1/3 innings since May 25. Bastardo has a miniscule 0.99 ERA and 0.74 WHIP on the season.

Antonio Bastardo pitched another perfect inning Friday for his fourth save.

Bastardo protected a one-run lead with ease against the Blue Jays. He's pitched eight hitless innings and allowed just a single walk in his last nine appearances. He'll keep closing until Ryan Madson returns.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Tuesday that he is leaning towards using Antonio Bastardo as his closer while Ryan Madson (hand) is on the disabled list.

Manuel left open the possibility that he could play the matchups, which means that Michael Stutes may also get a chance here or there. Bastardo, 25, has a 0.96 ERA and 33/13 K/BB ratio over 28 innings this season, so he should be owned in most mixed leagues at the moment.

Antonio Bastardo is likely to serve as the Phillies' closer for the next couple of weeks.

Ryan Madson was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a contusion on his right hand and Brad Lidge (elbow) is not expected to return until mid-July. Bastardo, 25, has registered a sparkling 0.96 ERA and 33/13 K/BB ratio in 28 innings this season for the Phils. He's worth owning in most fantasy leagues.

Antonio Bastardo turned in his fifth scoreless inning of the spring on Monday against the Astros.

He's allowed just two baserunners while fanning six. If he pitches half this well in the regular season, he could supplant J.C. Romero as Philadelphia's top lefty specialist.

Antonio Bastardo (elbow) threw a successful bullpen session Wednesday in Phillies camp.

Bastardo fired off 30 pitches from a mound and told reporters afterward that he felt no abnormal pain or discomfort in his once-sore left elbow. He should be back on track with the rest of the pitchers in camp soon.

Antonio Bastardo is not scheduled to pitch in the first six games of the Grapefruit League schedule.

Bastardo is still nursing some mild inflammation in his elbow and probably won't take a mound in a live game until the second week of spring games. The left-hander is battling for a relief spot and has plenty of time to get his work in before Opening Day roster decisions are made.

Antonio Bastardo (elbow) had a successful bullpen session Saturday.

Bastardo is behind other pitchers after dealing with an illness and minor elbow inflammation, which was originally reported to be a shoulder problem. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said Bastardo had no issues during the session and that "his arm looked fine. He threw fine." It appears it was just a small bump in the road for the 25-year-old. Bastardo is expected to be one of the lefties in the Phillies bullpen this season.

Antonio Bastardo is nursing a sore shoulder.

The left-hander should be ready to throw off a mound Thursday, though, and can catch up with the other pitchers in Phillies camp by next week. Bastardo is competing for a lefty specialist gig this spring.

With the Dennys Reyes deal falling apart, the Phillies could use Antonio Bastardo in the role intended for Reyes.

It's a good idea, as we anticipate Bastardo would fare better in the role than Reyes would have, anyway. The left-hander was terrific in 2010 in his first full season as a reliever, posting a 4.34 ERA and 12.5 K/9 rate in the majors and a 1.77 ERA and 14.6 K/9 rate in the minors. Bastardo has a good shot to make the team, but the Phils will likely bringing someone else in. Joe Beimel, Arthur Rhodes, Ron Mahay, and Hideki Okajima are still available.

Antonio Bastardo will be on the Phillies' roster for the NLDS.

The Phillies made it official this afternoon, as they will go with 10 pitchers, leaving Kyle Kendrick off the roster. Greg Dobbs and Domonic Brown also made the roster, while Danys Baez and David Herndon were left off.