"Brad Lidge may not close a game for Philadelphia this year.

He may not even be wearing a Phillies uniform next season.

They're things Lidge can't control.

That's why the next three months mean so much to him.

"I keep thinking about this year and how I want to get everything out of this year that I possibly can," he said. "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 threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and will throw another Friday followed by an additional one on Sunday or Monday. He is eying next week for the start of a rehab assignment.

The 34-year-old isn't sure how many minor league games he'll need to pitch to build up his arm strength and to get sharp, but he thinks he'll be back sometime in July after the All-Star break.

"I've never been out this long, so I don't know how long it's going to take me to build up on the other side of this, but hopefully it goes quick," Lidge said. "Obviously, being in the bullpen as opposed to being a starter is an advantage because I don't have to build up innings and pitch counts."

Lidge, who's missed the entire season with a partially torn rotator cuff and then elbow inflammation that developed when he started his throwing program, previously said he expected to be back by the end of June, or at the latest, mid-July.

"It's taken longer than I wanted, but if I can get back before the end of July, then I'll still have two months of ball to get myself where I need to be," he said. "Hopefully, I'll be able to throw a lot in that time frame. Obviously, those games are important. It's not October, but I got to throw well in those games, too.""