May 09, 2008 8:26 AM EST

John Smoltz said the pain in his shoulder has largely subsided during his ten days of rest, and he will begin throwing again within a couple of days, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He will return to the team as a reliever and hopes to appear by the end of May.

"Something starting with a '2'," Smoltz said, "one of those days."

"There's only a little bit [of stiffness] left," said Smoltz. "The first six days, there was no change. Every day since it's gotten better."

Via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution