Jun 4, 2007, 23:45 GMT
Chicago, IL - Roger Clemens has been diagnosed with a scar tissue injury in his right groin, although the Yankees are still hoping the seven-time CY Young Award winner will make his first start of the season on Saturday in the Bronx against Pittsburgh.
An MRI showed the disrupted scar tissue in Clemens, who was supposed to make his return to the majors Monday night against the White Sox, but he was scratched over the weekend in favor of Matt DeSalvo.
Clemens, who the Yankees signed to a prorated $28 million contract on May 6, pitched in three minor league starts, most recently on Memorial Day for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It was in that outing against Toledo that Clemens is believed to have suffered his groin muscle injury.
New York was hoping that Clemens would be able to help the team make a major turnaround this season. The Yankees are 24-31, 12 1/2 games behind the first- place Red Sox in the AL East.
Clemens spent the past three seasons with the Houston Astros after his first retirement following the 2003 campaign with New York. He pitched with the Yankees from 1999 through 2003, winning a pair of World Series titles during his five years with the club.
An 11-time All-Star, Clemens' 348 victories rank eighth in big league history. He is also one of just four pitchers with more than 4,000 strikeouts, as his 4,604 trail only Nolan Ryan on the all-time list.
The Yankees also placed first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a fractured right wrist and he's expected to be out 6-to-8 weeks.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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