Acta: Hill likely to miss upcoming start

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BALTIMORE — Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta said yesterday that right-hander Shawn Hill likely will miss his scheduled start Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies after receiving a cortisone shot in his right elbow Saturday morning.

Hill allowed four earned runs in a 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday and said the elbow pain developed because he had been compensating for the forearm soreness that caused him to start the year on the disabled list.

Hill said he's capable of pitching, but the Nationals weren't willing to take the chance.

"For the good of the kid, we're probably going to skip him," Acta said.

He didn't say who would start in Hill's place, adding the decision probably would be made tomorrow. Matt Chico is a candidate to make the spot start out of the bullpen, though it's possible the Nationals could call up a minor leaguer.

Acta said he's not anticipating Hill missing more than one start. And once the cortisone shot takes effect, Hill said, he might be able to make progress toward a normal throwing schedule between starts, which he hasn't had all season.

"The past couple starts, it's just been the elbow, the irritation, just getting fluid in there where I'm not able to get the full extension," Hill said. "So if that goes away from the cortisone shot, which it most likely will, just being soft tissue stuff. Hopefully after this start or the next start, I'm not going to jump right into it, start long tossing and bullpens but ease back into a more normal routine."

Kearns scratched

Right fielder Austin Kearns was a late scratch from yesterday's lineup with a swollen right elbow that he injured during batting practice Saturday. Elijah Dukes took his place in the seventh spot in the batting order.

"He's a tough guy," Acta said. "He didn't want to be out of it, but we thought it was the best thing for him."

Acta said Kearns is day-to-day, and neither he nor Kearns thought the injury would be a long one.

"It was just from swinging," Kearns said. "I would think [I'd be able to play today]. We'll see how it feels, but I would think it'd be all right."

Kearns entered the game in a 1-for-21 slump, having received the night off Friday to work on mechanical problems with his swing. He struck out with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning of Saturday's 6-5 loss to Baltimore.

He said, however, the injury didn't give him problems in the loss.