It required more shots than he would like to recall but Julio Teheran may be able to pitch in the All-Star game after all, despite a leg infection that threatened his midseason availability.
Although manager Brian Snitker won’t formalize his plans until checking back with his No. 1 starter on Friday, Teheran is penciled in to start Saturday’s game against the White Sox, which could leave him available to pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star game after a two-day break.
Teheran pitched a full bullpen session Thursday afternoon, followed by some outfield sprints, a full turn of events from Sunday, when the discomfort from an ingrown hair above his right (plant) leg knocked him out of a scheduled start. He had begun to feel some discomfort in a July 1 start but when the pain began to spread up his leg into his quad, the infection was lanced and Teheran began a concentration of injected medication.
“Oh, god, it was painful,” he said. “And all I shots I got, I never got so many shots in my life.”
“It was really good to see him back,” Snitker said before Thursday’s game vs. the Cubs at Wrigley Field. “I couldn’t wait to congratulate him again (on the All-Star berth) in person and to see him running around and throwing it around, hopefully he’s on track to pitch on Saturday.”
A 2014 All-Star selection, Teheran was picked this year on the merit of a 2.72 ERA and not his 3-7 record, which reflected more upon his run-support than his performance.
His availability for Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic may be affected by Saturday’s game at U.S. Cellular Field on the city’s Southside. But his quick recovery from treatment may give National League manager Terry Collins another short-relief option on Tuesday night in San Diego.
“Hopefully if I pitch Saturday, I’ll be ready for the All-Star game,” Teheran said. “I don’t know what the team is going to decide. It depends on how many pitches I throw but the most important thing is to pitch for the Braves and then we’ll see if I can pitch Tuesday.
