Major League Baseball

Astros ace Oswalt leaves start with hamstring strain

Published Mar. 26, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Astros ace Roy Oswalt was headed back to Houston to be examined by a team doctor after the right-hander left Friday's start against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a slight left hamstring strain.

Oswalt allowed one run and three hits in four innings before he was pulled as a precaution. He struck out six and walked none.

General manager Ed Wade said Oswalt will be examined by Dr. David Litner on Friday night or Saturday morning.

"I just want to get him checked," Wade said. "Head colds concern me. Allergies concern me this time of spring training."

Wade said Oswalt first experienced pain on the same side after Sunday's start against the Mets was rained out. He threw an inning before the rain forced him back to the batting cages. A few pitches into the bullpen session, he felt a pinch, and shut himself down.

"Since it's the same leg and had two things now occur, we're going to get him to Houston and let Dr. Lintner look at him," Wade said.

Oswalt acted as if nothing was wrong after he faced the Pirates, and had no idea that the team was sending him back to Houston to be examined. He said this is the first time in his career that he's had any trouble with his hamstring.

"I felt a little tight in the cage, nothing major," he said about Sunday's bullpen session. "Today, I didn't feel anything. The hammy got a little tight toward the end, but I told them I could go a couple innings more. But it's spring training. It's nothing major. If I needed to pitch seven, I think I could have gotten through it. There's no pain."

Oswalt has been limited to three outings and recorded six official innings this spring because of rain, which he said has thrown off his rhythm.

"Last game I threw 40 pitches," he said. "Today, I threw 60 pitches. So I'm increasing. When you throw in a cage or throw on the side, it's nothing like throwing in a game. You don't get the response from hitters and you don't really know what you got that day. You can throw good pitches but it's kind of like going to a driving range and hitting a few balls. You don't really know what you get until you get out on the course."

Oswalt already has been picked for his eighth consecutive opening-day start, but that could be in jeopardy if he has to miss any time the rest of the spring.

The Astros already are dealing with several injuries to key players, including first baseman Lance Berkman (knee surgery), outfielder Michael Bourn (oblique strain) and shortstop Tommy Manzella (strained quadriceps).