CINCINNATI -- Pedro Martinez is scheduled to start against the Phillies on Tuesday at Shea Stadium. The assignment is most tentative. A member of the Mets hierarchy acknowledged as much Friday, saying, "There's no need to push it. We have a pretty good Plan B in place."
The alternative to Martinez pitching on Tuesday is Johan Santana who, because of the off-day on Monday, would have a normal four-days rest between starts were he to replace his injured teammates. That off-day would afford normal rest for the starters to follow.
Martinez is to throw in the bullpen on Saturday when he rejoins the team to prepare for the scheduled start Tuesday, but also to determine how his right groin has responded to the cortisone injection he received on Thursday after his return from the Dominican Republic. "If he throws a great side [session] and says everything's great, he can go Tuesday," the person said. "But if he's not 100 percent, why not give him more time? The off-day could help us a lot."
Martinez strained his groin running the bases on July 7, and favoring it in his most recent start on July 12 against the Rockies caused stiffness to develop in his right shoulder. He was removed after four innings. The club thought a cortisone shot was advisable last weekend, but the personnel to administer it wasn't available, and Martinez wanted to return to the Dominican to be with his seriously ill father.
His throwing Saturday may be a bit premature. It is standard procedure to wait at least 48 hours after a cortisone injection to resume activity.
The Mets were awaiting word on two other disabled and apparently re-injured players Friday -- Angel Pagan (left shoulder) and Orlando Hernanadez (right foot).
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