ATLANTA, June 4 (UPI) -- Atlanta Braves right-hander John Smoltz plans to see orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews about the soreness in his pitching shoulder next week.
Smoltz, 41, came off the disabled list on Monday, promptly blew a save chance in a 5-4 loss to the Florida Marlins and woke up the next morning with pain in the shoulder.
"I can't compete against my body anymore," he said Wednesday during a news conference at Turner Field. "I'm totally content with it and I'm going to do everything I possibly can to continue to pitch.
"We don't know if the surgery will allow him to pitch (again)," said executive vice president Frank Wren.
Smoltz had been sidelined with an inflamed biceps tendon and inflamed rotator cuff from late April until Monday.
The former ace Braves ace and 1996 NL Cy Young award winner is the only pitcher in big league history with at least 200 wins and 150 saves.
