Injury Updates - Gagne, Borowski on the Mend, Izzy Injured

ERIC GAGNE COMPLETES PAIN-FREE BULLPEN SESSION, THROWS FROM MOUND

It's been a long wait for Dodgers fans and Eric Gagne fantasy owners, but it appears that baseball's top closer is finally making measurable progress toward returning to the bullpen.

Eric Gagne threw 60 pitches, including curveballs, during a flat-ground bullpen session on Monday. When he was pain-free after that session, he talked his trainers into letting him throw from a mound - and he threw 11 fastballs without incident. Pitching coach Jim Colborn said that "(o)verall, he looked better than I hoped for. He looked stronger and his delivery was good. He's pain-free. It was an encouraging day."

JOE BOROWSKI TO THROW SIMULATED GAME TODAY, EYES RETURN

Where have you gone, Joe Borowski? Cubs Nation turns its lonely eyes to you. In the aftermath of Dusty Baker's reported decision to reinstate LaTroy Hawkins as closer, Cubs fans everywhere have pinned their hopes on the one man that can deliver them from their torment - JoBo. Fortunately, he may be back sooner rather than later. According to the Chicago Tribune, Joe Borowski will throw a simulated game today, and hopes to get back on the mound immediately.

While a brief rehab stint at AAA Iowa will probably be necessary, Borowski said on Tuesday that "if everything's sharp on Wednesday, we can go map something out."

JASON ISRINGHAUSEN SUFFERS ABDOMINAL INJURY, WILL BE CHECKED TODAY

Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen, who is 7-for-7 in saves this season with a 1.08 ERA, suffered a strained abdominal muscle in the 9th inning of Tuesday's game against Milwaukee. He'll be examined today, at which time it will be determined if he'll need to spend time on the DL. Barry Weinberg, the Cardinals' head athletic trainer, discussed the injury after Tuesday's game:

"We have to wait until tomorrow to see how bad it is. It's hard to tell initially. In normal cases, right-handed people strain the left side. This is on the right side, so we'll have to see. We'll just have to assess it tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning it will be evident, the extent of it."

If Izzy spends time on the DL, it's likely that either Ray King or Julian Tavarez will be handed any save opportunities.

Tom Update: And as of 3:00 today, Izzy is on the DL.