Bartolo Colon appears to be in jeopardy of missing Saturday's start against the Chicago White Sox with a lower-back injury, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.
The injury has become a source of concern since it forced Colon out of his start Sunday against Seattle in the sixth inning and is apparently more severe than the pain that sidelined him for five days in spring training, according to the paper.
"There's no comparison," Colon told the paper through an interpreter Wednesday. "In spring training it was more tightness. This is more pain in the back."
The Angels' ace told the paper his back felt "a little better" after getting treatment on Wednesday, but he is still having trouble bending from the waist -- bad news for a club in a battle for the AL West title.
"I want to pitch," Colon told the Times. "We're in the middle of something good, and I want to keep contributing to it. That's why I want to wait as long as I can to make a decision. ...
"It's one of the hardest decisions I've faced in my career. Not only am I thinking about myself, I'm thinking about my teammates and how I don't want to let them down if I don't pitch well."
Colon would likely miss Saturday's start if it were early in the season; instead, the ace must decide whether it is worth pitching with discomfort and possibly risking further injury. Colon likely will not pitch in the bullpen Thursday or Friday, but will need to throw on flat ground to convince the club he is ready to start Saturday, according to the paper.