Major League Baseball

Report: Chamberlain's return unknown

Published Mar. 16, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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The Yankees said that reliever Joba Chamberlain's injury is a strained left oblique and he will not be pitching soon, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

Chamberlain felt what he described as a "cramp" or a "spasm" while pitching last Friday. An MRI exam revealed the strain, and the Yankees are going to keep him off a mound for the immediate future.

The strategy is for Chamberlain to play catch Thursday, then make a plan after that.

"Anytime you hear a strain, you say that's bad news," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "That's not what you want to hear.

"Right now he feels good. He's asymptomatic. He's done tests and feels good. As I've said, throwing is different than doing tests in the training room. We'll have to see."

Girardi said if this were the regular season, Chamberlain would be placed on the 15-day disabled list because he would not be able to pitch for a week and the team could not go that long with a short bullpen.

With two weeks left before the regular season begins, Chamberlain's recovery will have to be speedy for him to be with the team on Opening Day.

Girardi was asked if he expects Chamberlain to be back by then.

"I sure hope so," Girardi said. "The fact that he's playing catch [Thursday] is a good sign."

The 25-year-old reliever said he is not concerned but wants to take care of the problem now rather than have it drag into the season.

"I feel fine," Chamberlain said. "I've done everything I've needed to do. We'd rather take a couple of days here than have to worry about it in a couple of weeks and deal with it then. I'd rather take care of it now and not have it linger throughout the year."

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