Newz Forum: BASEBALL: Prior To Have MRI On Elbow Today

CHICAGO - The second half of the season started with a win and perhaps a major loss for the Chicago Cubs. Righthander Mark Prior, who returned in June after starting the season on the 60-day disabled list, will undergo an MRI on his elbow Friday.

Prior lasted just 1 2/3 innings in his start against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on Thursday before exiting with soreness in the elbow. The Cubs went on to win the game, 4-1.

It was just the eighth start of the season for Prior, who was sidelined for the first two months with an inflamed right Achilles tendon.

Beginning with six scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 4, Prior has gone 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA this season.

Prior went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 245 strikeouts in 2003 - his first full major league season - and was the runnerup in National League Cy Young Award voting.

In addition to Prior's absence this season, the Cubs have had to endure stints on the disabled list from outfielder Sammy Sosa, righthander Kerry Wood and shortstop Alex Gonzalez, among others.

© 2004 SportsTicker

Tough luck indeed for the Cubs, if they are going to make a push in the latter half of the season they need their pitching staff complete...

Cubs GM Jim Hendry said today that tests showed no ligament damage in Mark Prior's elbow. The right-hander is scheduled for a bone scan later today. Prior won't need Tommy John surgery, but the Cubs still don't have any real idea of how much time he'll miss.