MLB.com

By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

Andy Pettitte hurt his elbow on a check swing in his first start. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The injury occurred during a check swing in Pettitte's first regular-season start on April 6 versus San Francisco. An MRI was performed at The Methodist Hospital in Houston on Thursday that revealed inflammation in his left elbow and a strain in his flexor tendon.

"After the start, he mentioned he had discomfort in his elbow," general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "We didn't think a lot of it because he has a history of this. Last year, he had some discomfort, and he was able to pitch through it."

Pettitte, who won 21 games last year, will miss at least two starts, beginning with Monday's series opener at St. Louis, before he is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 23.

The left-hander flew back to Houston on Saturday during the Astros' 6-1 loss to the Brewers. After meeting with team doctors Sunday morning, Pettitte will likely have an injection in his elbow.

Pettitte said he is very optimistic that he will be able to return in time to start the first game in Colorado on April 23.

"I think I could have made my start on Monday (in St. Louis), but we weren't sure it was going to be good, with the strain in the elbow," he said. "So we thought it would be better to err on the side of caution."

Pettitte's injury is the first big setback the Astros have had to deal with since first gathering as a team for Spring Training in late February. No one is more frustrated than Pettitte, who, along with Roger Clemens, made the Astros a favorite to win the N.L. Central.

"I knew I aggravated (the elbow) when I swung," he said. "It's very disappointing. I'm trying to keep my chin up for the next three or four days."

Pettitte's teammates are confident Pettitte's ailment is just a temporary setback.

"Hopefully, it's just two starts," Craig Biggio said. "Getting himself healthy, that's the biggest thing. Obviously, when you lose a guy like Andy, one of your horses, it hurts."

"Hopefully he can do his time on the DL and come back feeling well," Jeff Bagwell said. "You don't get him for one or two starts. We've got Andy for 34 or 32, or whatever it's going to be now. He just needs to get a little healthy and we can go from there."

Added Hunsicker: "It's obviously extremely disappointing, especially at the start of the year. But unfortunately, it's part of the game. You hope you can stay away from injuries.

"He'll have the injection, take several days off to let it calm down, and hopefully beginning throwing again and target coming off the DL on the 23rd."

The Astros have recalled right-handed reliever Brandon Backe from Triple-A New Orleans to replace Pettitte on the roster. Knuckleballer Jared Fernandez will fill the void in the rotation with a spot start Monday against the Cardinals.

"We have 11 pitchers, so to start, relieve, close...as a knuckleballer, I'm there to do those things," Ferandnez said, adding that he didn't know Pettitte was hurt when he played catch with him before Friday's game. "I'm hoping Andy gets healthy quick. We definitely need him."

Manager Jimy Williams did not indicate how the club will fill Pettitte's place in the rotation beyond the series opener in St. Louis.

Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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