Cole Hamels To Miss Next Start With Shoulder Inflammation

The Phillies announced today that Cole Hamels will miss his next start with shoulder inflammation, but will not be placed on the DL. Hamels had complained of some stiffness in his shoulder and had MRI yesterday, which revealed no structural damage but did show some inflammation. Cole says it just due to some fatigue.

"It was just one of those things where I wasn’t able to get loosened up," Hamels said. "It’s that time of the year where you’re a little fatigued a little bit and battle through it and move on to the next game."

Because of Sunday's rainout, it allows all the pitchers to move up a spot but still be on regular rest. So Roy Oswalt will start Friday in place of Cole against the Nationals. As the Phillies still hold the best record in baseball, lead the NL East by 8.5 games (and growing) while also leading a hypothetical wildcard race by 13.5 games there's been suggestions that the Phils could use a six man rotation later in the year to give their top starters some extra rest as the playoffs draw nearer. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said it was an idea under consideration.

"We might, we might," Dubee said last week. "That's not out of the question."