Snake bites

• Gibson said Hill would need at least two more games on his rehab assignment before being activated.

Hill is scheduled to play Friday and Saturday for Triple-A Reno.

• Injured closer J.J. Putz was scheduled to pitch for Reno on Friday night. Putz may take a day or two off before the team has him pitch in back-to-back games.

"J.J.'s pushing," Gibson said. "He's ready in his mind."

Gibson declined to say whether Putz or Heath Bell would close when Putz returned.

"I haven't determined that yet," Gibson said. "We want to see how he's throwing, see where we're at."

• Outfielder Adam Eaton, who is on the disabled list with a strained left elbow, could head out on a rehab assignment to serve as a designated hitter as soon as Thursday.

Eaton could begin playing in the field as soon July 6 if all goes well.

• McCarthy, who is on the DL with shoulder inflammation, threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Friday and is slated to throw another Monday.

• Gibson discussed some of his criteria for when players are ready to come back from injury rehab assignments.

"I want them to be comfortable, I want them to be healthy, strong, and I want to have them up to speed," Gibson said. "It's not the AZ Summer League, it's not Double-A, it's not Triple-A; it's pretty competitive, so we want to make sure we prepare those guys to be ready to succeed."