By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Done with his sidetrack through a long-toss program, Matt Clement returned to the mound Friday for a 35-pitch bullpen session that left him and Duncan encouraged. Clement had missed more than a week of bullpen sessions to improve his arm strength. Duncan called Friday's throw "progress, a lot of progress" and said he believes Clement can return to a normal program.

"Just being able to throw the ball comfortably," Clement said. "I wouldn't say my arm is game-ready. … One way to (say) it, it wasn't survival — just seeing if my arm would last. It was actually throwing. Now I can work on stuff. Before it was just survival to get through 25 pitches."