Phillies optioned RHP Jonathan Pettibone to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Pettibone fell behind this spring due to right shoulder soreness and finally made his Grapefruit League debut Thursday. He'll continue to get stretched out in the minors for now and could be an option when the Phillies need a fifth starter for the first time in mid-April.

Jonathan Pettibone (shoulder) is tentatively scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Saturday.

He fired 2 1/3 scoreless innings Thursday in Clearwater. "Just work into the delivery, work into throwing strikes," pitching coach Bob McClure said. "I wanted to see him mix it up a little more, see him use his breaking ball a little more, which he did. I'm trying to get him to understand that you don't have to throw max effort all the time to be effective. I just don't know if he can do that throwing one inning every time." The spring hasn't been kind to Pettibone, as he owns a 1/7 K/BB rate over 10 1/3 innings. Even with the Phillies, that isn't going to hack it for a No. 5 starter.

Jonathan Pettibone (shoulder) is tentatively scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Monday.

Pettibone has been out with a sore shoulder since the beginning of camp but appears to be making progress. He's hoping to catch up in time to be considered for the No. 5 starter job, which might be doable since the Phillies won't need someone until April 13.

Jonathan Pettibone (shoulder) threw to live hitters on Wednesday.

"I felt good, no pain," Pettibone said after his workout. The 23-year-old right-hander believes he could still enter the mix for Philadelphia's fifth starter vacancy. The competition currently houses an uninspiring mix of David Buchanan, Jeff Manship, Sean O'Sullivan and Mario Hollands. "I think it could be perfect," Pettibone said. "I'm behind, but I don't feel like I'm a month out of it."

Jonathan Pettibone (shoulder) will throw live batting practice or appear in a minor league game Wednesday.

It will be the first time he's faced hitters since being shut down with shoulder soreness early on in camp. Pettibone could have enough time to get ready for Opening Day, but he's not expected to crack the big league roster.

Jonathan Pettibone (shoulder) threw from a mound with no issues Friday.

Pettibone received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder last week and appears to be all systems go now. He'll be fine for Opening Day if he can avoid a setback, though he's expected to serve as rotation insurance at Triple-A.

Jonathan Pettibone (shoulder) resumed throwing on flat ground Saturday.

Pettibone received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder five days ago to address some soreness, and he hopes to be back on a mound within the next week. The right-hander called the throwing session "fine." If healthy, Pettibone will serve as rotation depth for the Phillies.

Jonathan Pettibone received a cortisone injection Monday for his sore right shoulder.

Pettibone missed the final two months of the 2013 season due to inflammation in his biceps and rotator cuff, and it seems as though the issue was not resolved this winter. He'll try to throw in five days. If that doesn't go well, he'll likely visit a specialist.

Jonathan Pettibone didn't throw a scheduled bullpen session Sunday due to shoulder soreness.

It's a bit of a concern after biceps and shoulder issues cost him the final two months of last season, but the Phillies don't seem too worried at this point. "Hopefully nothing big," GM Ruben Amaro said. We are just trying to be cautious." It's not clear at this point when Pettibone will attempt to throw again. The 23-year-old doesn't have a rotation spot following the A.J. Burnett signing, but losing him would hurt the Phils' depth.

Jonathan Pettibone (arm) will throw off a mound Friday.

Inflammation in the right biceps and rotator cuff cost the 23-year-old righty the last two months of 2013 and limited his rookie season to 18 starts. Pettibone threw a few side sessions in October without pain, and will now resume work. "Last year, they had five starters," Pettibone said. "My goal last year was to show them what I could do. Give them an image in the back of their minds in case something went wrong - like it did - and they knew what they had. This year, tides have turned, and I'm going in competing for a job. It's going to be fun. I'm looking forward to it." Pettibone enters the spring competition an underdog to Miguel Gonzalez to seize the last spot in the rotation.

Phillies activated RHP Jonathan Pettibone from the 60-day disabled list.

It's a procedural move in order to add him back to the 40-man roster. Pettibone missed the last two months of the season due to shoulder soreness, but he's been throwing for a month and should be fine for spring training.

Jonathan Pettibone (shoulder) has been long-tossing for the past three weeks in the instructional league.

Pettibone's 2013 season ended prematurely due to rotator cuff tendinitis and biceps tendinitis. He's progressing well, though, and will try throwing from a mound soon. "I think this is my third week of throwing," Pettibone said this past Thursday. "I've got one more week of long-toss and then a week of bullpens."

Phillies transferred RHP Jonathan Pettibone from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

The move essentially rules Pettibone out for the season. The right-hander had a setback with his shoulder last week and is currently shut down from throwing.

An MRI on Jonathan Pettibone's right shoulder showed only inflammation.

"The (MRI) results came back showing inflammation as it was before," Pettibone said. "I wanted to make sure it wasn't more." The righty noted, however, that while the news was good, it's still up in the air as to when he'll return. "It is nothing serious, but it is going to take time," He said." They gave me six days (rest) at first and it wasn't enough. It was kind of mild inflammation and it never really went away once I picked up with activities and throwing."

Jonathan Pettibone is experiencing renewed soreness in his right shoulder and will undergo an MRI.

Pettibone has been out since July 28 with what was originally called a right shoulder strain. The Phillies will hope that the MRI results provide some answers.

Jonathan Pettibone (shoulder) will make a minor league rehab start Thursday with Double-A Reading.

Pettibone has been sidelined since July 28 with a strained shoulder. It's unclear how many rehab starts he'll need. The rookie right-hander has a 4.04 ERA and 66/38 K/BB ratio in 100 1/3 innings over 18 starts this season.

Phillies placed LHP Jonathan Pettibone on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 29, with a right shoulder strain.

Pettibone was experiencing dead arm and the Phillies chose to give him some time off and promote Ethan Martin. In his last start, on Sunday, Pettibone surrendered three runs on seven hits over five innings in a loss to the Tigers. The rookie left-hander has allowed exactly three earned runs apiece in his last three starts. Pettibone is 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He should be ready to return in mid-August.

Jonathan Pettibone surrendered three runs on seven hits over five innings in a loss to the Tigers on Sunday.

He struck out just one and walked four in the no-decision. Pettibone has allowed exactly three runs in his last three starts, and he's completed six innings in just one of his last five outings. Even still, the rookie left-hander has exceeded expectations this season. He remains 5-4 to go with a 4.04 ERA and 1.47 WHIP.

Jonathan Pettibone allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings in a loss to the Cardinals on Tuesday.

Pettibone also walked three while striking out four. It was the big righty's first loss since June 15, and even with the setback he's still 5-4 with a 3.97 ERA through 17 starts. He'll face another tough test Sunday against the Tigers in Detroit.

Friday's game between the White Sox and Phillies was postponed due to rain.

The two teams will make the game up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first game beginning at 3 p.m. ET and the nightcap starting at 8:15 ET. Friday's starters, Jonathan Pettibone and John Danks, figure to be pushed back one day.