Brad Penny Throws Simulated Start Prior To Thursday's Game

According to Jim Hayes of Fox Sports Midwest Brad Penny threw a successful simulated start before tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Penny has been out since late May, and his next step will apparently be throwing live batting practice in Colorado.

Brad Penny Throws Off A Mound, Due Back Sometime After The All-Star Break

Michael Bleach of Cardinals.com reports that Brad Penny threw off a mound Monday for the first time since his grand slam swing on May 21 took him out of the rotation indefinitely. 

The right-hander pitched from the bullpen for about 20 minutes, tossing from both the windup and stretch.

"I think it went pretty well," manager Tony La Russa said. "Now you take the next step."

It is unlikely Penny would be available to pitch before the All-Star break in two weeks, La Russa said.

Penny's DL stint was originally considered a precautionary move, but his fifteenth day of inactivity came and went without an update, and last week marked a month since the Cardinals' presumptive third starter had made a start. Kyle Lohse has also begun his rehab; in the meantime the Cardinals have thrown a mix of Jeff Suppan, Adam Ottavino, and Blake Hawksworth into the back of the rotation.