Lackey feels ‘pretty good' during side session

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By MaureenMullen
CSNNE.com

CLEVELANDJohn Lackey threw 40 pitches, all fastballs, in a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to throw again on Friday. If he continues to progress, he will pitch in a rehab game on May 31 and against the As on June 5 at Fenway Park.

He has been on the disabled list since May 12 because of an elbow strain.

He threw 40 right on the nose, all fastballs, manager Terry Francona said. I think pitching coach Curt Young and Lack were both thrilled. The ball came out of his hand good. Lack felt good. So we were kind of visiting with him trying to figure out how to move forward. Friday well have another side, but itll be kind of an extended side. Hell get up and down, just kind of work into kind of getting closer to a game.

Lackey was pleased with his outing, saying his arm strength felt better than it has for a while.

It felt pretty good, he said. Just threw 40 fastballs. So, definitely a step in the right direction. Felt a lot better.

I feel like my arm strength today felt pretty good, probably better than its felt in a bullpen session in a while. That was kind of nice.

I was happy with the way I was finishing my pitches and really didnt have to think about anything. Was able to let it go a little bit. Wasn't feeling the same kind of bite that I had in the elbow.

Lackey, who had a cortisone shot in his elbow on May 16, had not been able to get full extension on his arm at the end of his delivery because of pain in his elbow. That sensation is gone, he said. He has not pitched since May 11 in Toronto, when he gave up nine earned runs (one shy of his career high) in 6 23 innings. He said his elbow had been bothering him before that start, but he was unsure exactly when it began.

If he makes it back into the rotation on June 5, he will have missed just under four weeks.

The cortisone shot got most of the swelling out of there so that definitely sped the process along I guess, he said.

On Friday Lackey would throw about several simulated innings using all his pitches. He is expected to throw four innings in a rehab start on the May 31. Francona is not yet sure where that would be. Triple-A Pawtucket is hosting Norfolk (Orioles) that day.

Maureen Mullen is on Twitter athttp:twitter.commaureenamullen

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