Five days after flying back to Philly, Cole Hamels was back on the mound Saturday morning for a bullpen session.

It went fine.

We talked with Hamels afterward and he said there wasn't any pain or inflammation. Pitching coach Rich Dubee simulated a two-inning scenario where Hamels sat down for a five-minute period before throwing again. The ace lefty, who said the tightness came during rest in between innings or after throwing, said Saturday that was no longer the case.

Hamels said the next step will be to throw in a game, which he believes will happen Tuesday out on the minor league fields behind Bright House Field.

Hamels was noncommittal on whether he felt better about starting Opening Day - "That's like the furthest thing from my mind," Hamels said.

If Hamels throws Tuesday, he would be on tap to pitch again on Sunday, March 29 against the Red Sox - a full week before Opening Day. The math doesn't quite add up if the Phillies want Hamels to throw three times before Opening Day, so it would be interesting to see how the scheduling plays out.

UPDATE: Hamels will throw in a minor league game Tuesday, according to Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr.; Joe Blanton will also pitch in that game.
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The most surprising item in Saturday's starting lineup - no Chan Ho Park.

The fifth starter candidate tweaked his left hamstring in his last Grapefruit League game Sunday against the Cardinals. The Phillies decided to play it cautious and hold Park back - like Hamels, he threw a bullpen Saturday morning.

And, like Hamels, Park didn't report any pain while talking to reporters afterward. Park said he believes he's on tap to start in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.

UPDATE: Amaro confirmed that, yes, Park will throw in Dunedin Tuesday.

Here's the rest of your Saturday lineup that will face the Minnesota Twins:

1. Miguel Cairo, SS
2. Geoff Jenkins, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. John Mayberry, CF
6. Matt Stairs, LF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Chris Coste, C
9. Kyle Kendrick, P

Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre and Brad Lidge are also scheduled to pitch.