The news that Chris Tillman will miss Opening Day and could start the season on the disabled list rocked the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday afternoon. With discomfort in his shoulder lingering, the leader of the staff is proceeding with caution after a platelet-rich plasma injection.
He could begin throwing again in a few weeks, putting him on track to start the fifth game of the year. Or, he could deal with shoulder soreness, declining velocity, and a few trips to the disabled list all year long. No one really knows right now, and shoulder injuries come with much more uncertainty that injuries to any other part of the arm for pitchers.