Brewers' Marcum set to throw bullpen session Tuesday

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Shaun Marcum, who has been out of action since mid-June with an ailing elbow, is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session Tuesday as he continues the progression toward getting back in the rotation.

Marcum has been rebuilding arm strength through long-toss sessions and is finally ready to get back on the mound.

"I've been bouncing back like I normally do," Marcum told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I've been feeling pretty good. Just trying to build it back up and not do it too quick, where we do something stupid and get hurt again."

If all goes well with that first bullpen session, Marcum probably will do another one, then go out on minor league rehab. Assuming his progress continues and he returns soon, he will have missed about two months.

"I'm hoping for just a couple rehab starts," he said. "It's not like I've been out a long time, where I'll have to start out at 30 pitches and build back up.

"Hopefully the first rehab start will be 50-60 pitches, then 75-80 and from there I'd be back up here -- around 100 pitches."

The length of Marcum's absence has been a surprise to everyone, including the pitcher.

"It's been very frustrating," said Marcum, who was 5-3 with a 3.39 ERA at the time he was sidelined. "Sitting back and watching some of those games and knowing you're not able to help, it's very frustrating. But at the same time we have some guys who have gotten some opportunities to come up and pitch.

"I need to get healthy and do whatever I can to help this organization and myself for next year."