"Right-hander Aaron Harang passed a significant step on the comeback trail Tuesday when he threw 58 pitches in a simulated game at Great American Ball Park.

Harang passed well enough that he will pitch for Louisville in a rehab game on Sunday.

"That's the plan, if everything is OK," pitching coach Bryan Price said.

"He looked pretty good," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He had pretty good command. His fastball was pretty good. His slider was probably fair for him. He threw some real good ones and some so-so ones. The feel pitches are what you get last when you've been out that long."

Harang's back, which put him on the disabled list July 6, is fine.

"I feel good, real good," he said.

He thinks he can go 80, 85 pitches in his first rehab game. That would probably mean he'd only have to make two rehabs starts to be ready.

"I've been itching to go for a while," he said. "It's hard to being out knowing your arm feels good. I've been itching to get out there. It's hard even going on a road trip, sitting around."

Harang is convinced he'll be back in the rotation before season's end."