CINCINNATI (AP) -The New York Mets are having second thoughts about letting right-hander Pedro Martinez face the Philadelphia Phillies next week.
Martinez got a cortisone shot for strained groin muscles on Thursday. He was en route to Cincinnati from New York on Saturday afternoon, and planned to throw in the bullpen during a game against the Cincinnati Reds to see how he felt.
Manager Jerry Manuel originally planned to let the 36-year-old pitcher face the Phillies on Tuesday, the first game of their series at Shea Stadium, if he didn’t have any discomfort during his bullpen session. On Saturday, Manuel said Martinez might be held back until next weekend even if he feels good.
“We’re kind of vacillating on Tuesday,” Manuel said.
Martinez strained his groin while running the bases on July 7. Five days later, he left his start against Colorado after only four innings because of tightness in his shoulder – he assumed he had changed his delivery to compensate for the groin injury.
Manuel said there’s no thought of putting Martinez on the disabled list. If he doesn’t open the series against the Phillies, he could pitch the following weekend against St. Louis.
“We’re kind of wavering a little bit simply because he hasn’t picked up a ball, hasn’t been able to throw since his last outing,” Manuel said.
Martinez is 3-2 with a 6.25 ERA, making nine starts and pitching 44 2-3 innings. He missed about two months this season because of a strained left hamstring.
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