HOUSTON -- Astros reliever Joe Smith threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Sunday at Minute Maid Park, his first time throwing off the mound since hitting the disabled list with right elbow soreness earlier this month.
"I felt good," Smith said. "I was letting it go. I want to find out if it's ready to rock or not. There's no sense in babying it. Then you get into a game and you let it go and feel something or whatever."
The Astros begin a three-game series Monday against the Blue Jays before departing on a six-game road trip to Tampa Bay and Texas.
Throwing a bullpen session Sunday was Smith's most notable progress update since being placed on the DL on June 10, retroactive to June 7.
Smith, who is likely to require a rehab assignment before returning to the Astros, had no limitations during Sunday's session. Should Smith feel nothing more than normal soreness Monday, he is expected to throw another bullpen session in the coming days.