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Posted at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 20, 2007

MLB: Schilling says MRI exam shows shoulder normal

Associated Press

BOSTON — Curt Schilling's right shoulder was normal, according to an MRI exam, but the Boston Red Sox likely won't take his next turn in the rotation following a cortisone shot.

"I had an injection yesterday, so I'm giving it a couple of days here to see how it plays out," Schilling told WEEI-AM today. "The best case is that I'll be pitching on Sunday ... but that doesn't seem like that's going to be the case."

The 40-year-old right-hander was sent back to Boston from Atlanta yesterday for an exam after he got roughed up in his last two starts.

Schilling nearly pitched a no-hitter at Oakland on June 7, giving up a two-out single to Shannon Stewart in the ninth inning. But he allowed 11 earned runs and 19 hits in 9 1-3 innings in his next two starts.

On Monday, Schilling, 14th on the career strikeout list with 3,086, failed to fan a batter — the first time that's happened in one of his starts since 1993.

"I have not felt right this year," Schilling said, adding he believes the problem may be tendinitis.

"Pain is a relative term. There's been a lot of this year trying to discern what's because I'm 40 or what's because I don't feel good," he said.

Team spokesman John Blake confirmed the MRI showed no structural damage but he said he didn't know about tendinitis. He said doctors planned to meet with manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein later today.

"His start for Sunday is in jeopardy at this point, but we have not made a final determination," Blake said.

Schilling tore his labrum while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1995. He said when that happened, he went from throwing 95 mph in one inning to 80 mph in the next. He felt fine during that game but woke up in pain.

He said the recent problems were "eerily similar" in that he was throwing only 82 mph, but the difference this time was he did not wake up hurting.

"We're going to tread lightly here," he said.