Bednar (back) threw Friday in Philadelphia, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said in mid-August that Bednar was close to starting a throwing program, and the right-hander has now been cleared to make that step. He'll likely have to ramp up his intensity before he's in the mix to rejoin the Pirates, manager Derek Shelton hopes that Bednar will be able to return prior to the end of the regular season.