CINCINNATI – Cubs starting pitcher Andrew Cashner could be sidelined until after the All-Star break after aggravating the rotator cuff strain that originally put him on the disabled list six weeks ago.
An MRI in Chicago today revealed the same inflammation in the same spot as the first MRI did in early April – prompting the Cubs to shut down Cashner again and putting his recovery process back at square one.
Until feeling the pain Monday while warming up for a scheduled extended-spring start, Cashner had not had a setback during rehab and was expected to start a minor-league rehab assignment sometime this weekend.
“I feel real bad for him,” general manager Jim Hendry said. “He’s worked real hard. His rehab’s gone really well up to this point. Obviously, the main goal will be just to continue to get it right so an continue to have a bright future.”
Cashner, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2008, debuted last May and by the end of the season was an effective late-inning setup man.
He spent spring training building strength and stamina for the fifth-starter job and pitched well in his first start of the season until being forced from that start in the sixth inning because of the shoulder pain.
