We finally have a pretty good idea of when Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly will make his first start of the season after rehabbing from shoulder and knee injuries. According to Cubs beat writer Paul Sullivan, Lilly could be back on April 19th when the Cubs are in New York to face the Mets:

Ted Lilly is on track to return to the Cubs as early as April 19 in New York.

Manager Lou Piniella said Lilly will throw three innings on Tuesday in minor league camp and make one more start on Sunday before heading to a "warm" weather site for his rehab stint. From there he'll make two more starts, getting up to 90 pitches.

Piniella wouldn't give a date for Lilly's return, but the schedule points to the start of the road trip at Citi Field.

Link(Chicago Breaking Sports)

If it is April 19th, it will be the Cubs' 13th game of the season, so Lilly would just be missing two turns in the rotation. Nothing is concrete and it simply appears to be a target date that could easily change, but it's very encouraging, especially after recent talk had him returning by the end of April at the earliest.


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