Rosenthal throws off mound

Rosenthal throws off mound

MLB.com PITTSBURGH — It happened without an audience and well in advance of first pitch, but for the first time since July 25, Trevor Rosenthal threw off the mound on Monday.

It was a bullpen session of all fastballs, but for Rosenthal, it represented another step closer to a September return. The ousted Cardinals closer has reached the point in his rehab process where he has three bullpen sessions planned within the next week. That will be followed by live batting practice so that Rosenthal can test himself against hitters.

Full Game Coverage Those steps all lead toward Sept. 14, the date Rosenthal has circled for a potential return.

'I definitely feel like I'll be able to help out before the season is over,' Rosenthal said. '[The discomfort] I was experiencing for most of the season, it's gone now.'

Ironically, Rosenthal threw this first bullpen session back in the spot where he first felt something wrong with his arm. That was the first week of the season, when Rosenthal felt an odd sensation while warming up in the team's opening series at PNC Park. He continued to pitch through the discomfort, lost his job as closer and ended up on the DL with a 5.13 ERA.

'It's something that was definitely there [and] was causing me to mainly have issues with command and feel,' Rosenthal said. 'At least in my eyes, guys go through a lot of different things, and you just try to keep pushing. It wasn't working. Hopefully now I'll continue to progress and feel like I have in the past without an injury.'

Here are other medical updates on several rehabbing Cardinals: Matt Holliday: He will have another scan of his surgically repaired right thumb on Wednesday, after which the Cardinals will learn whether the left fielder can resume baseball activities.

• Michael Wacha: Wacha, who was shut down last month with a right shoulder stress reaction, has not had any setbacks since beginning a throwing program shortly after the Cardinals left on this road trip. If all continues to go as planned, Wacha should be throwing off a mound by the end of the week. Mozeliak said that the Cardinals are 'very hopeful he pitches this year,' though any return by Wacha would almost certainly be in a bullpen role.

By Jenifer Langosch