Phillies' Lee won't come off DL Friday

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee is eligible to come off the disabled list on Friday, but he will not be activated then because his strained left oblique has not healed sufficiently.

The Phillies want Lee to throw two bullpen sessions before he returns to the starting rotation, and his first bullpen session has not been scheduled.

"It's better," Lee told reporters Monday. "It's slowly getting better."

The Phillies are trying to be cautious with Lee at this stage of the season.

Lee is 0-1 with a 1.96 earned run average this season.