Riggleman updates the progress of Kimball, Gaudin and Wang

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman updated the status of a few pitchers before Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Reliever Cole Kimball told me over the weekend his shoulder is pain free after a couple of throwing sessions from 60 feet. He was scheduled to throw from 90 feet Sunday. Riggleman said Kimball is throwing a little bit and the reports his arm feels great. "His nature is very positive," Riggleman said. "He said he felt great before he went on the DL. He is just a positive guy who wants the ball. But we want to see him throw a little extensively before we commit back to him." Right-hander Chad Gaudin had a rehab assignment last week when he started the first two innings for the Single-A Potomac Nationals. A P-Nats team source told me he looked "awesome and had all his pitches going." Riggleman said they are also being careful with Gaudin as he recovers from a shoulder problem dating back to April 26. Riggleman said Gaudin "feels good and is throwing free and easy. He has a little bit of irritation in the neck area that has lingered." Gaudin is expected to move on to another rehab assignment at a higher level soon and pitch in the next couple of days, maybe even tomorrow. Riggleman also said right-hander Chien-Ming Wang remains in Florida. Riggleman said Wang, "is feeling good. There have been peaks and valleys in his program. His comments afterwards are that he feels good and he is ready to make the next appearance they want him to make in the gulf coast league where he will throw three or four innings. He is not where he was before the injury, but he is making progress." Wang is recovering from a serious right shoulder injury and has yet to make his Nationals debut.