Taillon (shoulder) will throw a normal bullpen session Saturday, the Pittsburgh Tribune's Rob Biertempfel reports. "I feel extremely healthy, extremely fresh, extremely encouraged," Taillon said Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

This is excellent news, as it suggests Taillon is almost ready to be activated from the DL and rejoin the big league rotation. It would not be surprising to see him start either Tuesday or Wednesday next week against the Brewers, now that Jon Niese has been demoted to the bullpen. Taillon's two plus pitches (fastball and curveball) have yet to result in big-time strikeout numbers over 28 big league innings, but his pinpoint command has been evident (4.4 percent walk rate), which separates him from many of the other top pitching prospects in the game.