Bronson Arroyo could miss start for first time in 19 years

Bronson Arroyo has been troubled by a lingering elbow injury. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) Arizona Diamondbacks starter Bronson Arroyo hasn't missed a start in

Bronson Arroyo has been troubled by a lingering elbow injury. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Bronson Arroyo hasn't missed a start in 19 years, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. But with a lingering elbow injury dragging him down, Arroyo is preparing for the possibility.

Arroyo had to leave his start Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers after only and 78 pitches. The 37-year-old, who has been dealing with the elbow issue for about a month, knows it can't continue for him to be successful.

"When I was throwing 83-85, it was like manageable. But it's slowly sliding downhill. So I may be facing the inevitable for the first time in two decades," Arroyo told reporters after the Diamondbacks' 6-3 win Sunday. "I can't keep going out there pitching like I did today many more times. It's just getting to the point where there's too much pain, and it's too difficult to get hitters out with that velocity time and time again."

The Diamondbacks are already dealing with season-ending elbow injuries to starters Patrick Corbin and Daniel Hudson. Both are recuperating from Tommy John surgeries.

In his 15th big-league season, Arroyo is 7-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 14 starts. He signed a two-year, $23.5 million contract with the Diamondbacks last winter. Since becoming a full-time MLB starter in 2004 with the eventual World Series-champion Boston Red Sox, Arroyo has not pitched fewer than 178 2/3 innings in a season.

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