Phillies offer no new information on Halladay, but Worley feels good

The Phillies didn't have any further information on Roy Halladay's shoulder, but his successor in the rotation appears to be determined.

After throwing a second bullpen session this week, injured righthander Vance Worley could move into Halladay's slot in the rotation on Monday when the Los Angeles Dodgers begin the first of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Much will depend on how Worley feels over the weekend after throwing his bullpen session before Friday's game against the visiting Miami Marlins. Worley has been on the disabled list retroactive to May 12 with right elbow inflammation.

As for Halladay, the Phillies are still waiting to hear from New York Mets team physician David Altchek, who saw the righthander on Wednesday for a second opinion.

After being examined by Phillies team doctor Michael Ciccotti on Tuesday, the team announced that that Halladay had a strain of the latissimus dorsi in his right shoulder and back. The Phillies said that Halladay would be shut down for a minimum of three weeks and could return to action in six to eight weeks.

The diagnosis from Altchek is being held up because the Phillies sent him additional details of Halladay's medical history.

"[Altchek] has the history of [Halladay's] MRIs, and we did one in 2009, and we wanted him to look at that," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said before Friday's game. "[Altchek] and Dr. Ciccotti actually talked, but we wanted to wait until Altchek took a look at some of the history to make a final diagnosis on him."

Amaro, who said Halladay had a recent CAT scan with "no alarming issues," reiterated that he felt the 6-8 week timetable was realistic.

In light of reports that Halladay wasn't throwing up to standards in spring training, Amaro was asked if he ever considered having Halladay examined in March.

"I've been asked that a lot and at no time did Doc ever really complain about anything or have an issue," Amaro said. "He has been with us since Jan. 1, basically, in camp, and we got to see him every day."

Amaro said the medical staff is always monitoring the health of the players.

"Our medical and rehab people were with him all the time, and he never gave any indication at all that he had an issue until recently," Amaro said. "His velocity wasn't all that different, maybe a tick below, but we thought it was more mechanical."

Amaro said pitching coach Rich Dubee and Halladay had been working together on mechanics.

Halladay is expected to address reporters once the doctors have all conferred on a diagnosis.

Worley was long-tossing on Monday in New York and threw a bullpen session at Citi Field on Tuesday before the Phillies' 6-3 loss to the Mets. He said he threw 30 pitches in that session and felt good.

Before Friday's game with the Marlins, Worley said he threw between 45 and 50 pitches in another bullpen session. Again, he said the session was positive.

"Everything felt really good," Worley said.

The next step is conferring with Dubee.

"We will see how he feels [Saturday] and Sunday," Dubee said.

Halladay last pitched on Sunday, but the Phillies were able to move his spot back a few days due to Thursday's off-day in the schedule.

When told that Worley felt sharp, Dubee didn't flinch.

"He should," Dubee said. "The more times you get out there, the better you will feel. I thought he threw the ball fine."

Dubee said he felt confident that Worley could be effective and wouldn't need a minor-league rehabilitation start.