KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - Atlanta Braves right-hander Kenshin Kawakami was scratched from his scheduled spring training start Thursday night because of arm fatigue.
Kawakami, the first Japanese player signed by the Braves, is expected to be Atlanta's No. 2 or No. 3 starter in the rotation behind Derek Lowe when the season begins."The regular season isn't here yet, so I wanted to take it easy," Kawakami said through an interpreter. "Yesterday (Wednesday) something just didn't feel right. Today, it's usual. I'm not concerned at all."
Kawakami has pitched in four games this spring, allowing seven runs and 14 hits in 13 2-3 innings. He has a 1.86 ERA in three starts.
"He could have pitched today," Cox said. "So I'm not concerned at all."
Cox said he expects Kawakami to make his next start Tuesday next week.
Another newcomer to the staff, Javier Vazquez, who just returned from the World Baseball Classic, will start in Kawakami's place against the Detroit Tigers.
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