Clemens may pitch Game 5

HOUSTON – Although he’s still sore, Roger Clemens remains “penciled in” as the Houston Astros starting pitcher for Game 5 (if necessary) of the World Series.

Astros manager Phil Garner said Tuesday that Clemens, forced out of Game 1 after two innings because of a recurring left hamstring injury, was still day-to-day.

“I still have him penciled in as the starter for Thursday’s game,” Garner said. “There’s been a couple of times this year when I didn’t think he was going to start, and he started, and he’s pitched well.”

But Garner also made it clear that he had “not said definitely one way or another that he is starting or not starting.”

Clemens wasn’t available to the media before Game 3 on Tuesday night. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner was on the field for the introduction of the teams, and in the dugout for the game.

In his first Game 1 start in the World Series, the 43-year-old Clemens left after 54 pitches against the Chicago White Sox, walked gingerly down the dugout steps and went straight to the clubhouse. The game was tied at 3 when Clemens left, and the Astros went on to lose 5-3.

General manager Tim Purpura said Clemens was still sore but was “making some progress,” and that the pitcher has taken some anti-inflammatory medication that seemed to be helping.

“I’m not counting him out until he says he can’t go,” Purpura said. “I expect him to walk out to the bullpen and begin warming up for Game 5.”

While expressing his optimism about Clemens pitching Thursday, Purpura said it was “50-50, really” that it would happen.

“These things are hard to put a percentage on, and say, yeah with certainty we think it’s going to happen or not,” Purpura said. “But, again, with Roger, I never count him out.”