Sanders – Padres pregame: Seeking seventh straight win, Joe Musgrove progresses

Musgrove progresses

Joe Musgrove threw 20 pitches — all fastballs — in his first official bullpen session since last October’s Tommy John surgery. It’s a baby step after he’d been throwing off the mound to a standing catcher, but it does move him further along in his hopes to pitch out of the bullpen in the postseason.

Musgrove expects to continue to throw bullpens every Tuesday and Saturday, increasing the pitch count by about five each time. He’ll begin introducing his secondary pitches after about eight sessions and perhaps begin to face hitters after 15 to 20 sessions.

If that schedule does not allow him to get into a rehab game at Triple-A El Paso before its season ends — the postseason is in play for the Chihuahuas after the regular season finale on Sept. 21 — the fall instructional league in Arizona is an option.

“I want one inning,” Musgrove said after Saturday’s bullpen. “I don’t care if it’s one hitter. I just want to be able to say I contributed in some aspect on the field. But it’s not about me. It’s if I feel good and everything looks good, it’s up to them if they want to put me out there for a playoff-type game for my first one back, so I need a lot to go my way.

“But I feel great right now.”