Jose Contreras

Jose Contreras (elbow) has completed his rehab assignment and could be activated from the disabled list this week.

No immediate timetable has been announced but he’ll travel with the team to San Francisco on Monday.”I feel good,” Contreras said. “My last five outings were good. My velocity was better, my location was better. I’m very happy to be back, personally, because my health is good and my arm is good and I can help the team.”

Jose Contreras (elbow) pitched in his second consecutive outing for Single-A Clearwater on Friday and could be activated by the Phillies as early as this weekend.

Contreras retired the side in order, including a strikeout in his most recent outing. He should be back in the Phillies bullpen by the end of the weekend, and could be in line for plenty of holds as the 7th inning option in front of Antonio Bastardo and Jonathan Papelbon.

Jose Contreras (elbow) allowed one run on three hits over one inning Thursday in his latest minor league rehab appearance with High-A Clearwater.

Things could have been worse, but he managed to strike out back-to-back batters with the bases loaded to escape. He’s scheduled to pitch again Friday and could be cleared to come off the disabled list by the end of the weekend.

Jose Contreras (elbow) could be activated from the disabled list by the end of this weekend.

Contreras is scheduled to make back-to-back appearances on Thursday and Friday before meeting with team doctors for a checkup on his surgically-repaired right elbow. If everything looks fine, he should be cleared to join the Phillies’ bullpen.

Jose Contreras (elbow) tossed a hitless inning Monday in his latest rehab appearance with High-A Clearwater.

Contreras struck out two and now has consecutive scoreless appearances under his belt. The veteran right-hander is eligible to return from the disabled list Tuesday, but the Phillies likely want him to pitch on back-to-back days before returning.

Jose Contreras (elbow) tossed a scoreless inning while striking out two Saturday in a rehab appearance with High-A Clearwater.

It’s a vast improvement over his last outing, when he recorded only one out while allowing three runs on two hits and a walk. Contreras feels fine physically and is eligible to be activated from the DL Tuesday, but the Phillies could wait a little longer to make the move.

Jose Contreras (elbow) struggled in a rehab appearance with High-A Clearwater Thursday, recording only one out while allowing three runs on two hits and a walk.

He served up a home run, threw two wild pitches and only fired strikes on four of 11 pitches. The good news, though, is that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro said Contreras feels fine physically. “He’s perfectly fine,” Amaro said. “He’s going through the process of a rehab. Somebody booted a ground ball behind him that was ruled a hit and his location wasn’t great, but he’s perfectly fine physically. He had poor location and got beat up, but that’s why he’s rehabbing.” Contreras is eligible to come off the DL on April 10, but it sounds like he’ll need more time than that.

Jose Contreras (elbow) is set to begin his minor league rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Clearwater.

Contreras is making steady progress from offseason elbow surgery, but he won’t be ready to start the season on time. The veteran right-hander is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 10 and should be close to ready by then.

Phillies placed RHP Jose Contreras on the 15-day disabled list with elbow soreness.