Mulder optimistic he'll pitch later this season

~ Mulder threw about 50 fastballs in a bullpen session Friday.

ST. LOUIS -- Mark Mulder exited his latest bullpen session Friday optimistic he can help the St. Louis Cardinals' makeshift pitching staff at some point this season.

"Today was by far the best I've thrown," Mulder said after throwing 45 to 50 fastballs several hours before the Cardinals played the San Francisco Giants. "Where that is on a scale, I don't know, but it's definitely a lot, lot, lot better."

The left-hander is rehabbing from rotator cuff surgery last September and has been impatient at times with the laborious nature of his comeback. A month ago, he said he wouldn't be surprised if he didn't pitch competitively again until next year.

Mulder, a 16-game winner with St. Louis in 2005 who slumped to 6-7 with a 7.14 ERA in an injury-plagued '06, said he's counting on returning at some point this year. He threw 45 to 50 pitches, all fastballs, and could add breaking balls soon.

"I would definitely hope so, and we'll see how it goes," Mulder said. "I guess I'm kind of planning on it.

"Unless there's a setback, I don't see why not."

That attitude was a big contrast from his last side session earlier in the week when he was seen throwing his hat.

"I wasn't frustrated, I was just expecting more out of it that day," Mulder said. "It's been up and down the whole time."

Ace Chris Carpenter, is scheduled to make his second rehab start Sunday coming off surgery in May to remove bone chips from his elbow and could return to the rotation soon after the All-Star break. He may need as few as two more rehab starts.

"He goes out there, you take a look at him," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "When he's ready, he's ready. Nobody knows now."

As for Mulder, there's still no timetable. The next stage could begin after he's scheduled to join the team in Miami for a series against the Marlins that begins July 16.

"The way I'm approaching it, it's just kind of week by week, how I feel," Mulder said. "And we just take the next step from there."

Mulder, who turns 30 next month, was told to expect highs and lows by teammates and other players who've undergone serious surgeries. Besides the slow pace of rediscovering the proper arm slot and building strength, Mulder said the only setback was one day when he was sore the following day after throwing.

"I didn't see him, but he was pleased today," La Russa said "It's a big difference from spring training. He's definitely making progress."