Stewart Could Miss Two Starts

OAKLAND —  Dave Stewart, who has not been on the disabled list in his 10-year major league career, left Oakland’s 9-3 victory over Baltimore on Wednesday after straining his left rib area while throwing a pitch.

Stewart said he felt “just like being stabbed” when he struck out Sam Horn for the first out of the second inning. When he made his first pitch to the next batter, Dwight Evans, he walked off the mound and summoned A’s trainer Barry Weinberg.

“I’m not optimistic for his next start,” Weinberg said. “I’ll see how he feels tomorrow, then go from there, and from game to game. We can’t really say anything specific, because we can’t really know anything for 24 hours.”

“There’s reason to be concerned,” Stewart said. “People who’ve had this same injury, sometimes it takes two or three weeks to get better. Hopefully, I got out of there in time for it not to hurt me.”

Oakland team doctor Jerrald Goldman said Stewart will not undergo an MRI exam at this time.

“It’s just a pulled muscle,” Goldman said. “He could miss two starts.”