Next step for Cashner is throwing program

SAN DIEGO -- Andrew Cashner's elbow felt fine Sunday a day after he played catch for the first time since landing on the disabled list on May 16 with soreness in his right elbow.

Cashner played catch with catcher Rene Rivera from 60 feet and then pushed it out to what appeared to be close to 100 feet.

San Diego manager Bud Black said he thinks Cashner will play catch again Monday before the team plays the first of three games against the D-backs at Chase Field in Phoenix.

"He feels good and he's pretty confident," Black said. "In the next few days, we'll get together with the medical staff and form a throwing program for him."

Cashner, in all likelihood, is still several weeks away from appearing in a Padres game, as he'll need to either play a short Minor League rehabilitation stint or possibly a simulated game before the team decides that they want to reinstate him from the disabled list.

"Right now we feel pretty confident in how he's feeling," Black said.