Chase Utley (oblique) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Wednesday with Double-A Reading.

Chase Utley (oblique) could begin a minor league rehab assignment as early as Tuesday night.

Utley took batting practice with his Phillies teammates on Friday and Saturday at Coors Field, reporting no issues with his right oblique. If he indeed starts playing in rehab games Tuesday, he should be back on Philadelphia's active 25-man roster by the end of this week.

Chase Utley (oblique) took batting practice on Friday and Saturday with no issues.

It's the first time he's done so since a strained right oblique sent him to the disabled list. Utley will take batting practice again on Sunday and seems likely to be cleared for a rehab assignment soon. The Phillies haven't provided a timetable for the second baseman, but a return next weekend would seem to be a best-case scenario.

Chase Utley (oblique) started swinging in the batting cage and also went through a vigorous ground ball workout on Sunday.

Utley's oblique responded well, and he remains on track for a mid-June return. The second baseman seems likely to be sent out on a rehab assignment before long to test things out in a game setting. He was batting .272/.339/.475 with seven homers and 25 RBI through his first 44 games before landing on the DL.

Chase Utley (oblique) said Friday that he's anticipating returning to the Phillies' starting lineup in the middle of June.

Utley, who has been sidelined since straining his oblique on May 21, has been fielding ground balls and expects to swing a bat within the next 3-4 days. Before the injury, he was off to a nice start offensively, hitting .272/.339/.475 with seven homers and 25 RBI through his first 44 games.

Chase Utley (oblique) fielded some grounders prior to Thursday's game.

Utley said "so far, so good" after the workout but declined to offer a timetable for his return. "I don't have a timetable," he said. "As soon as it feels better, I'll put more stress on it and go from there. The biggest test will be rotational stuff. That's what initially hurt it in the first place. That will be the last thing I do. I'm just running and getting back into baseball shape by taking ground balls. Those are the things I'll do until I'm ready to hit."

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro said Wednesday that Chase Utley (oblique) won't be activated when first eligible.

Utley was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 21 with a right oblique strain and has made steady but slow progress in his rehab. Freddy Galvis is serving as the Phillies' primary second baseman for the time being.

Phillies placed 2B Chase Utley on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 21, with a mild oblique strain.

General manager Ruben Amaro described the strain as "very mild," so, all things considered, it's pretty good news for the Phils. Amaro is hopeful that Utley will be ready when his two weeks are up, but it's possible he could be out as long as four weeks. Freddy Galvis will function as the primary second baseman while Utley is out. The team will make a corresponding move prior to Friday's game.

Chase Utley (rib cage) will undergo an MRI on Thursday.

Utley was scratched from Tuesday's lineup after he felt pain and a burning sensation in his right rib cage after taking a swing during batting practice. Rib cage and oblique injuries tend to linger, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him land on the disabled list at this point. Get a backup plan in place in fantasy leagues.

Chase Utley was a late scratch from Tuesday's lineup after feeling discomfort in his side.