Kenley Jansen throws off mound for first time since foot surgery

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen threw a bullpen session on Saturday before the club's game with the Rockies, his first time throwing off a mound since foot surgery in February.

"It's just another step on the way, hopefully. He's feeling really good. This was the first time he was off a mound to be able to throw," manager Don Mattingly said. "We'll see how he comes out of that tomorrow, and hopefully that progression just keeps going. We haven't had any setbacks with him. It's been pretty positive to this point."

Jansen had surgery on Feb. 17 to remove a growth from the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot, a procedure which had an initial timetable for his return to the Dodgers in eight to 12 weeks.

Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, Jansen was doing dry work in the bullpen, going through the motions of throwing but without a ball.

Jansen, who has been completely without his walking boot in the last week or so, is expected back roughly in early May.

Through 10 games this season, Dodgers relief pitchers are seventh in the National League in ERA (2.53), are second in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.00), and lead the league in FIP (1.10), xFIP (2.08), strikeouts (45), strikeout rate (34.6%), strikeout rate minus walk rate (27.7%).