MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs pitcher Mark Prior will miss five-to-10
days of spring training because of an inflamed right Achilles
tendon.
Prior, an 18-game winner last season, was injured during drills
last week. An MRI exam revealed no tear, general manager Jim Hendry said
Monday.
"We're just going to make sure he's 100 percent," Hendry said.
"He was in great shape when he got here. He's been working out.
He's a big strong guy with huge legs."
Prior is 24-12 in his first 49 major league starts. He went 18-6
a year ago -- his first full season in the majors -- and had a 2.43
ERA with 245 strikeouts, second in the NL to teammate Kerry Wood.
An All-Star last season, Prior went on the disabled list after a
basepath collision with Atlanta's Marcus Giles. After returning in
early August, he went 10-1 as Chicago surged to the playoffs.
In the postseason, Prior was 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA in three
starts. He was the loser in pivotal Game 6 of the National League
championship series when Florida scored eight runs in the eighth
inning and went on to win that game and the series.