WASHINGTON (AP) -Nationals right-hander Shawn Hill is “99 percent sure” he’ll have to go on the disabled list because of a sore right elbow that forced him out of a start against the Florida Marlins after five no-hit innings Friday night.
Nationals doctor Ben Shaffer said Hill (3-3) probably would be shut down for seven to 10 days and will have an MRI exam Monday. Shaffer said it didn’t appear Hill was hurt on a particular pitch or play.
“It’s been a little bit sore recently and it got a little bit more sore today,” Shaffer said.
Hill walked two batters and retired the other 15 Marlins he faced. He went out to warm up for the top of the sixth, when he was visited on the mound by manager Manny Acta and a team trainer.
Hill left the field to a partial standing ovation, and reliever Winston Abreu entered to begin the inning. The Marlins’ first hit came in the seventh off Saul Rivera, and the Nationals wound up winning 6-0.
Hill and Shaffer both said the pitcher’s mechanics might have been affected by a bothersome left shoulder, which the player jammed during two separate games this season. The shoulder also will be tested Monday.
“We all think it’s from my left shoulder basically being weak and tired,” Hill said. “My mechanics have been a little bit out of whack and putting stress on the elbow.”
He had elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2004 and missed all of the 2005 season and most of 2006. But Shaffer said that doesn’t appear to be the cause of the current problem.
“It’s probably more inflammation than anything else,” Shaffer said.
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