Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee fanned 10 while allowing one run and five hits in eight innings Tuesday against the Astros.

Lee left with a 3-1 lead, only to have it blown by Chad Qualls. He’s still winless despite a 1.95 ERA in five starts this season. His luck has to change at some point, right?

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said he will be a seller in July if his team doesn’t improve over the next few months.

“We just have to get on track,” Amaro said. “But if July comes and we’re playing like this, we’ll be sellers. How we play now will determine whether we’ll be buyers or sellers in July.” The Phillies are 14-18 and five games back in the NL East. With a $174 million payroll, just shy of the $178 million luxury-tax threshold, and ownership that doesn’t want to pay the tax, Amaro won’t have much wiggle room if he decides he wants to be a buyer in July.

Cliff Lee (oblique) was sharp in his return from the disabled list Wednesday, holding the Mets to two runs on five hits and one walk in six innings of Philadelphia’s 10-6 loss.

Lee struck out six before watching his bullpen get pummeled for eight runs. On a pitch count, he threw just 84 pitches, and would have certainly come out for the seventh inning under normal circumstances. It should be all systems go for the game’s best No. 2 pitcher going forward. Lee will bring a 2.17 ERA and microscopic 0.76 WHIP into his start against the Astros next Tuesday.

Phillies activated LHP Cliff Lee from the 15-day disabled list.

As expected, Lee will make his return Wednesday night against the Mets. The 33-year-old southpaw has been on the disabled list since April 19 due to a strained left oblique. He had a 1.96 ERA and 18/2 K/BB over his first three starts before the injury and should be active in all fantasy formats immediately.

Cliff Lee (oblique) pronounced himself ready to return to the Phillies’ rotation.

Lee made it through a bullpen session Saturday without any issues and will rejoin the Phillies in New York next week. The 33-year-old has been on the disabled list since April 19 with a strained left oblique. Kyle Kendrick, who had been filling in, is expected to return to the bullpen.

Cliff Lee (oblique) will throw a bullpen session on Saturday.

Lee is coming off a pain-free Wednesday session, and if all goes well this weekend, is tentatively expected to rejoin the Phillies rotation next Wednesday against the Mets. Weekly-league players should be prepared to activate their ace on Monday.

Cliff Lee (oblique) threw his first bullpen session Wednesday since landing on the disabled list.

He didn’t feel anything with his left oblique. Lee won’t return from the disabled list on Friday when first eligible, but he’ll throw another bullpen session in a few days and should be activated if it goes well. He boasts a 1.96 ERA and 0.70 WHIP over his first three starts.

Cliff Lee (oblique) will not come off the disabled list when he is eligible Friday.

Lee’s condition is improving, but he has yet to throw his first bullpen session since the injury. The Phillies want him to throw two before activating him from the disabled list. Barring any setbacks, the veteran southpaw could return next week.

Cliff Lee underwent an MRI on Thursday, which confirmed the initial diagnosis of a left oblique strain.

“Cliff’s got a Grade 1 left external oblique strain, which is kind of what we thought it was going to be,” said general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. “And he seems to be doing better and better every day. Hopefully he’ll only miss a couple starts, but we’ll see how it goes.” Lee is eligible to come off the disabled list next Friday, but Amaro indicated that he may need longer than a minimum stay.