CINCINNATI — Pedro Martinez got a cortisone shot today to heal his strained groin, forcing the New York Mets to push back his next start by at least a couple of days.

The 36-year-old righty strained groin muscles while running the bases on July 7, an injury that hasn't fully healed. He got an injection in New York to speed the process, and players are told to rest for 48 hours after they get a cortisone shot.

Manager Jerry Manuel said Martinez will miss his scheduled start on Sunday, the final game of a series against the Cincinnati Reds. Instead, Martinez will join the team in Cincinnati and throw in the bullpen on Saturday to see how he feels.

If there are no problems, Martinez could start against Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Mets were a half-game behind the Phillies in the NL East at the All-Star break.

Mike Pelfrey will start in Martinez's place against the Reds on Sunday.

Martinez is 3-2 with a 6.25 ERA, making nine starts and pitching 44 2-3 innings. He missed about two months this season because of a strained left hamstring.

Martinez left his start last Saturday against Colorado after only four innings because of tightness in his pitching shoulder. He figured he was putting more strain on his shoulder because of his sore groin, and the Mets took him out of the game as a precaution.

Manuel doesn't think that Martinez will have to go back on the disabled list.

"The only time I've been concerned was when he mentioned the shoulder thing that one game," Manuel said. "Other than that, I have not been concerned. I don't really see him as a complete game guy anymore, you know. I think that would be unrealistic. But I do see him as being a guy that can help us win a division."

Manuel doesn't expect outfielder Ryan Church back for the series in Philadelphia next week. Church sustained a mild concussion on May 20 at Atlanta and has been having headaches.

Church is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list for the series against the Phillies, but Manuel said that's unlikely.

"He's feeling real good," Manuel said. "He wants to do things, but they're being very cautious about it, and right fully so."