PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies right-hander Pat Neshek is inching closer to a return to the bullpen.
Neshek has not pitched this season because of right shoulder and forearm injuries, but he is scheduled to make his third rehab appearance Friday. He made his second appearance Tuesday with Double-A Reading, allowing two hits, one run and striking out one in one inning.
"He felt strong," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park. "He actually felt stronger than he did in his Florida rehab outing, so we are really excited about that."
It is possible Neshek could be activated over the weekend. Or Neshek could make one more rehab appearance.
"We would want him to feel sharp," Kapler said. "He wants to feel sharp. And as long as he's healthy, he's kind of going to drive the ship, and we're going to support it, as it should be. He's an experienced, veteran pitcher who knows his body better than anybody. So we want him to feel confident when he goes out on the mound for us here for the first time."
In other injury news:
• Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (nerve issues in fingers) is scheduled to pitch a bullpen session Thursday. He will then travel to Clearwater, Fla., to continue his work there.
• Right-hander Luis Garcia (sore right wrist) will throw a bullpen session Friday. He could be activated as early as Sunday. 
• Right-hander Edubray Ramos (right shoulder issue) will throw off flat ground Thursday. "We don't expect that one to last very long," Kapler said about Ramos' DL stint. Ramos can be activated as early as July 5.