PITTSBURGH -- Joe Nathan is making progress as expected. Brad Ausmus also expects that he will return to his role as closer once he's healthy.
"That's the plan," Ausmus said. "We'll see what happens, but that's the plan. The most important thing is to get him back. Our bullpen is stronger with Joe in it."
Nathan did some long tossing in the outfield at PNC Park on Wednesday afternoon and felt good afterward.
"If he feels fine tomorrow the next step will be to throw off a mound," Ausmus said. "But I can't tell you exactly when that will happen.