Elbow and shoulder injuries have plagued a number of pitchers over the past two seasons, especially some young up-and-coming arms. The New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays could be dealing with problems in that department.
After a report on Friday that Mets' starting pitcher Zack Wheeler was dealing with tenderness in his right elbow, the team sent the 24-year-old for an MRI on Saturday, according to Mike Vorkunov of the Newark Star-Ledger. Both Wheeler and General Manager Sandy Alderson downplayed the injury, but it looks like they're now being cautious.
Wheeler said he had tenderness last season and was able to pitch through it as he administered anti-inflammatories and other treatments to maintain his health. Alderson said the right-hander received a cortisone shot in his elbow, but Wheeler denied that ever happening.
Prior to undergoing the MRI, Wheeler said he would pitch in his next scheduled start on Mar. 19, but more will be known when the results come back.
In Tampa Bay, another young starter has been suffering from a potential nagging injury. Drew Smyly was diagnosed with shoulder tendinitis earlier this month, which put him behind schedule this spring. He has yet to make a start even though he said the ailment "isn't serious" and he has continued to work out.
However, Rays' manager Kevin Cash weighed in on the matter and it seems as if Smyly might not be ready for the beginning of the season.
"We're hitting that area now where it's probably starting to get behind the gray area," Cash told Bill Chastain of MLB.com. "We are hopeful with Smyly's situation that it's going to be very close, if he misses a start or pitches on the fifth day. [There's] a lot of factoring in with that off-day."
The left-hander made 30 throws at 60 to 70 feet on Sunday and said everything felt good and that he would be throwing again on Monday.
Smyly was acquired at the trade deadline last season in the deal that sent David Price to the Detroit Tigers. In seven starts with the Rays the 25-year-old finished 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA and 0.755 WHIP and was expected to play a big role with the team in 2015.
With fellow starter Alex Colome out indefinitely with pneumonia, Smyly's shoulder issue is even more of a concern because the Rays will have two starters behind schedule heading into the regular season.
