Last Updated on July 5, 2008 6:23 pm by admin
ATLANTA (AP) -Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt returned to Houston on Saturday after experiencing more discomfort in his strained left hip.
Oswalt was examined by Dr. Mike McCann in Houston on Saturday and is expected to rejoin the team in Atlanta on Sunday. On Friday, he felt more pain in the hip when he tried to throw on flat ground.
“He just tried to put a little more into his throw and it just didn’t feel good,” manager Cecil Cooper said. “I don’t think you can take any chances with Roy, he means too much.”
Oswalt will try to throw on flat ground again on Monday and throw in the bullpen on Tuesday.The Astros did not announce results of Saturday’s examination and have not announced when Oswalt will return to the rotation.
Oswalt was forced to leave Monday night’s start against Los Angeles with the sore hip. His start was originally pushed back from Saturday night to Tuesday. But now Cooper said right-hander Brandon Backe will start in Oswalt’s place Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
Cooper said he couldn’t speculate on when Oswalt will next pitch.
The right-handed Oswalt is 7-8 with a 4.60 ERA. He has at least 14 wins in six of his seven seasons, including back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2004 and 2005.