Astros.com: Pettite Injury Muscle Related; may make next start

Pretty good news!.

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...527&content_id=754157&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp

Forearm strain unrelated to recent elbow problems

By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- Further examinations of Andy Pettitte's left arm reconfirmed the original diagnosis that the left-hander has a muscle strain in his forearm. The good news is that it appears to be unrelated to the elbow strain that caused Pettitte to spend three weeks on the disabled list in April.
"We ruled out tendon problems in his elbow which has been the primary problem in the past," general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "This is a muscle-related injury in the forearm. It should definitely resolve itself. When that happens is impossible to predict."

When he met with team doctors Thursday afternoon, Pettitte said he felt better and that there was an improvement in the tightness and discomfort that forced him to leave his start against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday after the fourth inning.

The Astros will monitor Pettitte's progress over the next few days but will not make a decision on his immediate future until they see if Pettitte can conduct his normal routine in-between starts. Pettitte's next start would be Tuesday against the Cubs in Chicago.

"If he feels up to playing catch tomorrow [Friday], he'll play catch," Hunsicker said. "He has to be able to throw his bullpen Saturday. If not, there's no way he can pitch Tuesday. To pitch Tuesday, he has to be able to do his normal regimen between starts.

"Until we get to Saturday, which would normally be his bullpen day, I won't know where we are."

Pettitte, 31, threw 71 pitches in his abbreviated outing Wednesday. Following the final out in the fourth inning, the left-hander grimaced and shook his arm as he walked off the mound. Under the recommendation of head athletic trainer Dave Labossiere, manager Jimy Williams took Pettitte out of the game and sent Brandon Backe to the plate to pinch-hit.

If Pettitte returns to the disabled list, the Astros have limited options to replace him. Right-handed reliever Brandon Duckworth made two spot starts in Pettitte's place in April, allowing three runs over four innings in an Astros win against Milwaukee on April 17 before earning the win on April 23 in Colorado, where he yielded four runs over five innings.

If Duckworth were to step into Pettitte's spot in the rotation this time, he might be a little rusty. The right-hander has pitched only four of the Astros' 24 games in May.

Knuckleballer Jared Fernandez is another option. He is 1-2 with a 4.04 ERA over 12 games (eight starts) for Triple-A New Orleans. He has allowed 29 earned runs over 64 2/3 innings with 12 walks and 27 strikeouts. On May 9, Fernandez pitched 10 innings during the Zephyrs' 13-inning, 6-5 win over Memphis.

Fernandez was optioned to Triple-A in April after allowing four runs and recording only one out in a spot start for Pettitte in St. Louis.

Left-hander Carlos Hernandez is not a likely candidate for a promotion, considering he is still working to build arm strength after missing the entire 2003 season because of shoulder surgery.