Adam RubinShaun Marcum received a cortisone shot in his pitching shoulder Tuesday.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Right-hander Shaun Marcum received a cortisone shot in his pitching shoulder on Tuesday to treat an impingement, the Mets announced.
That's terrible news for a rotation already due to lack Johan Santana to open the season. It potentially opens the door for Aaron Laffey to join Jeremy Hefner as rotation fill-ins.
Marcum was given the cortisone shot in New York during Tuesday's off-day.
He officially is day to day, but will not make his scheduled start Thursday.
Marcum had right shoulder inflammation last spring training with the Brewers. He then spent nine weeks during the summer on the disabled list with right elbow tightness, but said the injury was nowhere near as grave as the issue that led to him undergoing Tommy John surgery on Sept. 30, 2008.
Collins said he believed Marcum would be back in a Grapefruit League game on his next turn, March 25 or 26.
"He said he gets it every spring, pretty much," Collins said, referring to a shoulder issue. "So he just wanted to get it cleaned up and get it done early so he could take a couple of extra days now and go into his last start in the spring and extend himself a little bit."
