Roy Oswalt (back) allowed just one run on one hit and two walks while striking out four over four innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley Wednesday. The lone hit Oswalt gave up was a solo homer, and he threw 41 of 72 pitches for strikes. The big news is that the veteran said he'll need one more rehab outing before being activated, and he anticipates it coming next Monday. If that goes well, he should be able to rejoin the Phillies rotation the following weekend.

Roy Oswalt (back) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He's expected to throw 60 pitches. Oswalt had an impressive bullpen session Friday and thinks he'll need just the one rehab start, but it's possible he could require more. The limited pitch count would seem to suggest an additional start will be needed. Assuming all goes well, he should return sometime in early August. The veteran has been sidelined since late June.

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro thinks Roy Oswalt (back) might need more than one rehab start. Oswalt looked terrific during a bullpen session Friday and thinks he needs just one rehab outing, which Amaro referred to as "optimistic." The GM added, "Clearly, he seems to be passed some of the back issues he's been having, so that's a great thing," Amaro said. "[One rehab start] is optimistic. I don't know if it's realistic. But he knows his body better than anybody else... We've got to be cautious with him. We still need him for the long haul." Phillies starters have a 3.18 ERA in 21 games since Oswalt's last start, so there's no need to rush him back.

Roy Oswalt (back) received positive reviews from his latest bullpen session Friday. "Oh man, he looked good," said Domonic Brown, who was one of the Phillies' players who stepped in against Oswalt on Friday. "He had a really live fastball, his off-speed was good. He looked great." Though there aren't any firm plans yet, the veteran right-hander is confident that he'll only need one minor league rehab start. If that's the case, it's possible he could rejoin the Phillies in early August.

Roy Oswalt (back) threw a bullpen session Tuesday without any pain. Great news. Barring any setbacks, Oswalt could make a minor league rehab start as soon as next week. This would likely set him up for a return in the early part of August.

Roy Oswalt (back) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Oswalt will need to prove his health with three or four bullpen workouts before the Phillies allow him to begin making minor league rehab starts. The veteran right-hander is not expected back until August.

Roy Oswalt (back) thinks he'll need two rehab starts before coming off the disabled list. Oswalt has been getting treatment and has thrown two times without any issues. "I threw two times pretty well, still on flat ground," Oswalt said. "I'm hoping maybe to get off the mound in Chicago [next week]. I did two injections. One was cortisone, one was something else, don't know exactly what it was. I've been through this before, so I kind of know where I'm at. I feel pretty good. The biggest thing now is build arm strength to get back. I feel like I can throw two or three innings, but I need to get back to 100-some pitches. You may have to have two rehab starts to see where I'm at. The biggest test will be when I get off the mound in Chicago." It's not clear when he'll begin a rehab assignment, but it sounds like it won't be long.

Roy Oswalt (back) resumed workouts Monday and hasn't experienced any pain. Great news. Oswalt hopes to throw a bullpen session Monday, after which we should know something more definitive about his status. Either way, he's unlikely to be rejoin the Phillies until sometime in August.

Roy Oswalt was given a series of injections this weekend to help the inflammation in his back. The Phillies are hoping that Oswalt will feel well enough later this week to resume his throwing program. He's been on the disabled list since June 24 and might not return to the big league rotation until August.

Roy Oswalt will meet with his doctor Friday to determine what type of injection is needed for his ailing back. Oswalt has been out since late June with inflammation in his back. Though the Phillies are holding out hope that he could be ready to return by the end of July, his absence will most likely stretch into August.