Philadelphia's Cole Hamels has a sore left elbow and is considered a longshot to be the team's starter in the April 5 opener against Atlanta.
The Milwaukee Brewers may have to look at some other options at closer with ex-Arizona Wildcat Trevor Hoffman sidelined by a strain on his right side. The Phillies’ plan to start Cole Hamels on opening day also is in flux.
Hoffman, baseball’s career saves leader, has missed one scheduled appearance this spring. He signed with the Brewers in January after spending most of his career with San Diego.
“We are going to proceed cautiously, as we have done with all these injuries,” Brewers manager Ken Macha said Tuesday in Scottsdale. “Every little thing you are concerned about, but the trainers aren’t very concerned about it. They think he’ll be fine.”
Hoffman felt the injury the day after pitching a scoreless sixth inning in a 5-1 victory over Kansas City on March 13.
“The way Trevor told me, he didn’t feel anything after his inning. He didn’t feel anything on the bench. But driving in the next morning, he felt something,” Macha said.
The Brewers open the regular season April 7 at San Francisco. Right-handers David Riske, Todd Coffey and Jorge Julio could fill in at closer if needed.
Hamels, the World Series MVP, was examined in Philadelphia on Tuesday and was returning to the Phillies’ spring camp after a team physician found no damage in his sore left elbow.
Hamels received an injection to relieve inflammation and should be cleared to throw by Thursday. His status for the April 5 opener against Atlanta is unclear.
“Opening day is probably a long shot,” Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said. “We’re going to have to get him stretched out. Off the top of my head, he’s up to 52 or so pitches. We like our guys ready to throw 100 pitches by opening day.”
Hamels went 14-10 last season with a 3.09 ERA. He was 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five postseason starts.
Brett Myers could get the opening-day start for Philadelphia if Hamels can’t go.
Myers struck out seven in 5 2-3 shutout innings to lead Philadelphia to an 8-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Clearwater, Fla., on Tuesday.