Braves' Brandon McCarthy: Throwing off mound

McCarthy (knee) threw off a mound Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

This is an encouraging step for McCarthy, who has been on the disabled list since June 28 with right knee tendinitis. According to David O'Brien of The Athletic Atlanta, the right-hander is scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday before hopefully being cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week. He's making adjustments that will hopefully allow him to return to the Braves in September, albeit as a reliever.