NewsPadres' Young likely headed for DL
Right-hander will miss next start with shoulder strain
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
06/16/09 11:15 PM ET
SAN DIEGO -- Right-hander Chris Young will miss his next scheduled start and will likely go on the disabled list this week with a right shoulder strain, according to Padres general manager Kevin Towers. |
Young, who was to start on Friday against Oakland at PETCO Park, said an MRI exam showed that he had either inflammation or a strain in his right shoulder.
Young said on Tuesday he has had soreness in his shoulder for "roughly the last four or so starts," but that the soreness on top of the shoulder persisted in his last start against the Angels on Sunday, when he walked five and allowed five runs in 2 1/3 innings became worse, with soreness in front of his shoulder as well. "Structurally the shoulder looks good," Young said. "There is some inflammation or a strain in there that's going to take a little bit of time to heal. It's something I have been fighting the last four starts and it's gotten progressively worse each time," Young said. "Now we're at a point where it's not recovering between starts and we have to evaluate and find out how to proceed." Young, 4-6 with a 5.21 ERA, walked a career-high four consecutive batters in that start against the Angels. The 2 1/3 innings marked his shortest start, aside from when he was hit in the face by an Albert Pujols line drive last season. Young said that during the last month, he decreased how many times he threw between starts and doubled the anti-inflammatory medicine that he was taking in hopes of causing the inflammation to go away. "I was trying to stretch it and get it loose [on Sunday]," Young said. "Finally [manager Bud Black] came out and said, 'We've got to get this checked out. We can't let you stay out there.' It's not something you play around with." Young said he was hopeful he wouldn't miss too much time because of the injury. The Padres are already without No. 1 starter Jake Peavy, who could be out until August with tendon damage in his right ankle. "The fact that everything looks good on the MRI is encouraging," Young said. "Yesterday, I couldn't even lift my arm. I've never had shoulder problems before. It's nothing to play around with. If I can get this calmed down, hopefully it's not an issue for the rest of the season." The Padres recalled pitcher Mike Ekstrom and Josh Banks from Triple-A Portland earlier in the day on Tuesday. Banks could possibly start on Friday, as could left-hander Wade LeBlanc, who is currently with Portland. LeBlanc could be recalled when Young goes on the DL, a move that will likely be made later this week. The Padres still need a starter for Saturday's game against the A's, the spot vacated by Peavy. That spot is expected to go to Walter Silva, who, like LeBlanc, is currently with Portland.Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
