Kerry Wood’s chances of being ready for opening day were dashed by another injury.
The former Chicago Cubs’ ace hurt his right shoulder pitching in relief Sunday and was experiencing more stiffness than usual Monday, one week before the Cubs open the season against the Cincinnati Reds. Wood will not be ready for the first game.
“No, that’s not going to happen,” manager Lou Piniella said Monday. “Let’s just hope it’s not serious and he can resume preparing himself. Obviously, we’ll give him time.”
Wood was to undergo an evaluation from the Cubs’ medical staff Monday. He appeared in only four games last season and was trying to make a comeback from a partially torn rotator cuff, an injury he chose to rehab rather than repair with surgery.
“Certainly this is a setback for him,” Piniella said. “It’s a shame, because Kerry has really worked hard, put in a lot of time over the winter, and he was disappointed in the setback.”
Red Sox: Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched five hitless innings but walked five Reds in Boston’s 5-0 loss that left the rookie dissatisfied in Sarasota, Fla.
“This time of year I think the content of my pitching is more important than the result on paper. I am not happy with the content of my pitching today,” Matsuzaka said in a statement. “I threw a lot of walks and wasted balls. It was tough on my (fielders) to defend and to get into a good rhythm on offense.”
Manager Terry Francona said the right-hander was fine physically after throwing 104 pitches, his spring-training high. He’s expected to throw 40-60 pitches Saturday in Philadelphia in his last exhibition appearance.
Matsuzaka threw an unusually high 45 balls and had trouble controlling his fastball. But when hitters do make contact, they usually make outs; he hasn’t given up a hit in his past 10 innings.
Marlins: Florida acquired reliever Jorge Julio and cash from the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitching prospect Yusmeiro Petit.
“It’s good for me, because this team is giving me the opportunity to be the closer,” Julio said. “I’m so happy.”
Julio went 2-4 with a 4.23 ERA in 62 appearances with the Diamondbacks and New York Mets last year.
Yankees: Andy Pettitte threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session since being sidelined by back spasms.
Manager Joe Torre said he was pleased with Pettitte’s performance, but didn’t rule out the possibility the left-hander might miss his first turn during the regular season.
“If it’s the second round, so be it,” Torre said. “Remember, it’s 162 games, and the long haul is what we’re concerned about.”
Pettitte will have another mound session Wednesday if there are no physical setbacks. He might pitch in a minor- league game Friday or Saturday.
Pettitte expects to be ready for the start of the season.
“I plan on it, no doubt,” he said. “I’m feeling a lot better.”
Padres: San Diego plans to release infielder Todd Walker today, a little more than a month after he won a $3.95 million salary in arbitration.
The Padres will owe Walker $971,311 in termination pay.
Meanwhile, right-hander Jake Peavy was picked to start the season opener at San Francisco on April 3.
Pirates: NL batting champion Freddy Sanchez is expected to start the season on the 15-day disabled list with a knee injury.
Dodgers: Los Angeles, seeking a right-handed hitting outfielder because of a potential season-ending injury to Jason Repko, acquired Brady Clark and cash from the Milwaukee Brewers for reliever Elmer Dessens.
Mets: Reliever Duaner Sanchez has a broken bone in his pitching shoulder and is expected to be sidelined until at least August.
Tigers: Chris Shelton, baseball’s surprising star 11 months ago, was optioned to Triple-A Toledo along with infielder Ramon Santiago and right- hander Zach Miner as Detroit decided to complete its 25-man roster with infielder Neifi Perez and right-hander Chad Durbin.
Shelton batted .326 with 10 homers in April, but later struggled so much he was demoted.
Royals: Pitcher Luke Hudson will begin the season on the disabled list with a sore shoulder.
Rangers: Texas claimed right-hander Ezequiel Astacio off waivers from the Houston Astros and designated right-hander Rick Bauer for assignment.
