El Duque could miss Game 1
Could be a blow to the Mets if they can't use Hernandez in this one. Would mean handing the ball to Maine or Trachsel, or letting Glavine pitch on three days rest which would blow the Maddux-Glavine matchup I'm looking forward to 
ESPN.com Link
NEW YORK -- Already missing Pedro Martinez, the New York Mets suddenly might have to replace pitcher Orlando Hernandez in Game 1 of the playoffs because of a calf injury, too.
El Duque felt discomfort in his right calf while he was jogging in the outfield Tuesday as the NL East champions tuned up for their division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 40-year-old right-hander, who had been scheduled to start New York's postseason opener, was pulled off the field and was headed for an MRI exam.
"Obviously, we're up in the air on who our starter is right now," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "We have some options, but we're going to wait and see how he feels."
Those options are limited, however. Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is out until next summer because of calf and shoulder injuries.
Tom Glavine, slated to start Game 2, pitched Saturday in Washington. So if the Mets want to bump him up, he would be working on only three days' rest.
Randolph said he hadn't yet spoken to the 40-year-old lefty about that possibility.
Steve Trachsel, who went 15-8 with a 4.97 ERA this year, skipped his scheduled outing last weekend to attend to a family matter on the West Coast. He was due back in New York on Tuesday evening, but Randolph said the right-hander probably wasn't an option to pitch Game 1 on Wednesday afternoon.
That leaves rookie right-hander John Maine as perhaps the best option. Maine was 6-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 16 games this season, including 15 starts.
But he obviously lacks the October experience the Mets were counting on with Hernandez, acquired from Arizona in May. El Duque is 9-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 19 career postseason games, including 14 starts, mostly with the Yankees. He also owns four World Series rings, and his teams are 12-3 in postseason series.
"He was very upset," Randolph said. "Hopefully, it's just something mild. ... The doctor said it might just be a cramp."
Hernandez, however, has a more dire diagnosis.
"I was sprinting in the outfield," Hernandez told Newsday. "And I pulled my right calf. It's not a cramp."
NEW YORK -- Already missing Pedro Martinez, the New York Mets suddenly might have to replace pitcher Orlando Hernandez in Game 1 of the playoffs because of a calf injury, too.
El Duque felt discomfort in his right calf while he was jogging in the outfield Tuesday as the NL East champions tuned up for their division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 40-year-old right-hander, who had been scheduled to start New York's postseason opener, was pulled off the field and was headed for an MRI exam.
"Obviously, we're up in the air on who our starter is right now," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "We have some options, but we're going to wait and see how he feels."
Those options are limited, however. Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is out until next summer because of calf and shoulder injuries.
Tom Glavine, slated to start Game 2, pitched Saturday in Washington. So if the Mets want to bump him up, he would be working on only three days' rest.
Randolph said he hadn't yet spoken to the 40-year-old lefty about that possibility.
Steve Trachsel, who went 15-8 with a 4.97 ERA this year, skipped his scheduled outing last weekend to attend to a family matter on the West Coast. He was due back in New York on Tuesday evening, but Randolph said the right-hander probably wasn't an option to pitch Game 1 on Wednesday afternoon.
That leaves rookie right-hander John Maine as perhaps the best option. Maine was 6-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 16 games this season, including 15 starts.
But he obviously lacks the October experience the Mets were counting on with Hernandez, acquired from Arizona in May. El Duque is 9-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 19 career postseason games, including 14 starts, mostly with the Yankees. He also owns four World Series rings, and his teams are 12-3 in postseason series.
"He was very upset," Randolph said. "Hopefully, it's just something mild. ... The doctor said it might just be a cramp."
Hernandez, however, has a more dire diagnosis.
"I was sprinting in the outfield," Hernandez told Newsday. "And I pulled my right calf. It's not a cramp."
