Pettitte has MRI on groin
New York Yankees ace Andy Pettitte has an ongoing strain in his left groin and will not be able to throw off the mound for at least a week. Pettitte threw some pitches in the Yankees bullpen before a game against the Detroit Tigers. He practiced on a flat surface, before taking the mound and still felt discomfort.
Pettitte had to cancel pitching a simulated game last week for similar reasons. He was taken to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI after trying to throw some pitches. Pettitte had been eyeing a return this week, but he’ll have to wait a while longer, not wanting to risk aggravating the injury.
"They're basically doing this to set his mind at ease," a team spokesman said.
The 38-year old originally strained his groin on July 18th in a start against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was expected to be back this week, as his 4-5 week recovery timetable suggested however earlier this week manager Joe Girardi said it’d be “at least another two weeks,” before Pettitte could return. It is still unknown when exactly he’ll be able to pitch again.
"I'm feeling better," he said. "When I reach back 100 percent like when I'm trying to get a hitter out in a game, the groin area grabs."
Pettitte will continue to throw from a flat mound and will pitch simulated innings and bullpen sessions. That would suggest his return would be somewhere around the beginning of September. Of course the Yankees would love to have him back now as the Rays have caught up to the Yankees in the pennant race and Dustin Pedroia has returned to the Red Sox, meaning they could catch fire soon as well.
Before Pettitte was injured, he was on pace to have the best season of his career. He was 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA. The Yankees were also leading the Rays by three games, but have gone 14-13 in Pettitte’s absence and have slipped into a tie with the Rays.
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