He was outstanding. We're hoping for a rehab start next Tuesday or Wednesday. Today he looked good, threw all his pitches (about 65), looked strong.

He's still a day or two, in my opinion right now, away from being able to get up on the mound. I've got to be able to see him air it out on flat ground before I'd even think about putting him up on the mound. So I think he's still 48 hours from being able to make a real accurate decision [about starting on Saturday].

It regressed a little the last two days from when it was real good,

The real test will be when we get him on the mound -- and then after his mound exposure, we'll let him field some ground balls, ... We'll let him field bunts down both lines and we'll let him cover first base. ... He's got to be able to get around at least well enough to be able to do those things that are required out of every Major League pitcher.

There's no use having him throw unless he's close. And if that means early September, it's early September.

He wanted to pitch Sunday, but we had to slow him down a bit.