Pittsburgh — John Smoltz threw Sunday for the first time in two weeks and reiterated plans to rejoin the Braves by the end of May, moving back to the bullpen in an effort to protect his shoulder.

"I now how the ball felt coming out of my hand, and I felt like I could pitch tomorrow," said Smoltz, who has been on the disabled list for two weeks with inflammation of the rotator cuff and a biceps tendon.

Smoltz clarified by saying he knew it wasn't possible to pitch so soon. He knows there is a significant difference between making 25 flat-ground throws to bullpen catcher Eddie Perez, as he did Sunday in the indoor batting cage at PNC Park, and throwing off a mound.

Still, his optimism was apparent after his first throws since the April 27 start at New York, when he left a game after four innings and said increased throbbing in his chronic shoulder made it impossible to pitch effectively.

"I didn't feel anything [Sunday], because I only threw 40 feet and 25 throws," Smoltz said, "but I threw them firm. I expected to feel something just because that's what I've been feeling for a long time.

"If I can continue to not feel [pain or discomfort] and expect it's going to be fine, then certainly this transition will be a lot better than I can imagine."

He will likely throw on flat ground again Monday in Pittsburgh, then take Tuesday off before meeting with Braves medical people to determine if he's ready to get on the mound.

"We'll see," manager Bobby Cox said. "Maybe another day or two, and turn him loose."

Smoltz, who turns 41 on Thursday, said throwing off the mound, and with the arm extension required to keep pitches down in the strike zone, were two bigger tests than the easy, chest-high throws he made Sunday.

But he's confident about returning to the active roster this month.

"I had that in mind since I went on the DL," Smoltz said, "and I still think that's going to come true."

The transition he referred to was his pending move back to closer, after being a starter since the beginning of the 2005 season. Smoltz prefers starting to relieving but believes his shoulder would no longer hold up for more than five innings at a time.

Rather than risk what he believes would be more DL stints if he stayed in the rotation, he'll move to the bullpen, likely for the rest of the season. He hopes to get quick outs and make 20 pitches or fewer in one-inning spurts.

The Braves probably wouldn't be able to use him more than a few times a week in the closer role, and might consider having him share the duties with closer Rafael Soriano, who's been on the DL for a month with a sore elbow.

Smoltz converted 154 saves in 3 1/2 seasons as a closer, including a National League-record 55 saves in 2002. He is 47-26 as a starter since the beginning of the 2005 season, including 3-2 with a 2.00 ERA in five starts this season.

He recorded 36 strikeouts with eight walks and 22 hits allowed in 27 innings this season, but Smoltz said the shoulder hurt much more than people realized.

On April 27 against the Mets, he said it worsened to the point he could no longer make subtle adjustments to control the discomfort and keep pitching well, the way he had frequently since straining the shoulder a year ago.

Soriano throws again

His right elbow wasn't perfect, but Soriano said it felt better in his 10-minute bullpen session Sunday than in the one five days before.

"It felt good," he said after throwing outdoors on a cool, damp Sunday, the latest test in a comeback that's taken longer than anyone anticipated. "A little sore, but better than before."

Soriano, who's been out with elbow tendinitis, cut short a Tuesday session at Turner Field because of continued discomfort.

The Braves scheduled an MRI and bone scan Wednesday to determine if a ligament tear or stress fracture might have been causing his lingering problems. The tests came back normal.

Soriano returned to his throwing program and was back on the mound Sunday. He'll probably throw again Tueday in the bullpen at Philadelphia, then a decision will be made on the next step.

Cox said he would need to throw at least one inning, presumably in a minor league game, so that the Braves could have assurances before they send down someone to create a roster opening for Soriano.

Manno's wife mourned

Claudia Manno, the wife of Braves assistant general manager Bruce Manno, died Saturday from lung cancer. She was 53.

Her illness was diagnosed in November, just after her husband was hired by the Braves. He spent the past six seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals front office.