Joe Blanton (elbow) is expected to throw his first bullpen session on Monday afternoon. Blanton ran into some elbow tightness while throwing long toss last week, but that discomfort is apparently now behind him. The 30-year-old right-hander is aiming to return to the Phillies' starting rotation shortly after the All-Star break.

Joe Blanton has been experiencing some tightness in his right elbow during long toss. Despite this, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro is still hopeful that Blanton will be able to start throwing off a mound within a week. Consider the right-hander out indefinitely for now, but we certainly won't see him before the All-Star break.