Johnson Cleared To Pitch Again

Four-time All-Star Randy Johnson, who had to miss a start in Oakland on Sunday because of soreness in his left shoulder, will be able to pitch again next weekend for the Seattle Mariners.

The ace of the Mariners’ staff was examined on Monday afternoon by Dr. Mitch Storey, one of Seattle’s team physicians.

X-rays showed Johnson’s left shoulder is inflamed, but he has no tendinitis. He is taking anti-inflammatory medication.

“I have no major concerns about Randy’s shoulder,” Storey said before Monday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox. “I found that he’s got a little bit of inflammation in his shoulder from throwing the way that Randy throws.”

Johnson, the American League starting pitcher in the All-Star Game, is 11-2 with a 3.03 ERA and leads the major leagues with 195 strikeouts in 20 starts and 139-2/3 innings. He has two shutouts and four complete games.

In games Johnson has started, the Mariners are 17-3.

The 6-foot-10 left-hander was scheduled to be given a magnetic resonance imaging test on Monday afternoon, but couldn’t get his shoulders into a conventional MRI tunnel. Johnson is scheduled to be given a precautionary MRI in a larger machine today or Wednesday.

“That’s why they call me the Big Unit,” Johnson said and laughed.

He will throw on the side Wednesday.

“Randy’s had some soreness in the past, but it hasn’t been to this degree,” Storey said. “But it’s nothing unusual at all for a pitcher at this time of the year. Randy’s strength at this point in the season is better than most pitchers are. This is real typical.”

Johnson will pitch Friday, Saturday or Sunday in Kansas City and will be limited to 100 pitches in his first game back.

“We’re going to control him a little bit so he won’t reaggravate his shoulder,” Storey said.

In his last five starts, he has averaged 137 pitches a game and threw a season-high 160 in his final start before the All-Star Game.