"Brad Lidge, Mr. Perfect three seasons ago and Mr. Injured a lot of the time since, is getting closer to starting what figures to be his swan season with the Phillies.

His spring injury, a partially torn rotator cuff, has healed.

He's also over his May setback, an elbow strain.

The 34-year-old righty with 222 career saves has been throwing pain-free, progressing to bullpens, and within days, he hopes to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. And he's knocking on wood that he'll be back pitching for the Phillies within a month.

"Everything feels great, everything is right," Lidge said Wednesday after throwing a 35-pitch bullpen and before the Phillies' 2-1 win over Boston. "It has gone a little bit slower than I was hoping, but that being said, (I want to return) sometime between the All-Star break and the end of July. It's not going to take the entire month, I know that much."

The next step for Lidge is building arm strength. He needs good fastball velocity to set up his slider, which, when effective, can be one of the game's best. Eventually, he'll need to command his pitches as well.

It's been a frustrating first half for Lidge, who went to spring training hoping for a great 2011 season.

His days with the Phillies appear numbered. In the final season of a three-year, $37.5 million contract, Lidge has a $12.5 million club option that won't be picked up. Instead, the Phillies eventually will pay him a $1.5 million buyout.

"When this year's over, I have no idea where I'll be or what the process will be going into next year, but really I'm just super concerned right now and all my energy is going into coming back this year and giving everything I can for the last couple months of the season," Lidge said."