Adams still hampered with back issues

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies setup man Mike Adams said Wednesday afternoon he received an injection for his sore back earlier this week, but does not know when he will be able to pitch again.

Adams said he got a shot Tuesday to help relieve his back, which first gave him trouble Sunday in Arizona. Adams was not available Wednesday for the third straight game, but did say he was feeling better.

He noted that if his back doesn't improve by Thursday or Friday, he will consider getting an MRI.

"I don't know a true timetable on what's going on right now," Adams said. "I feel better than I did yesterday. Yesterday I felt horrible. Hopefully, tomorrow I can come in and feel better and keep progressing day by day."

Adams, who has a 3.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts, 14 hits and six walks in 17 appearances this season, said he has never experienced an injury like this before and that it happened suddenly when he was fielding during the Phillies' batting practice Sunday.

"It was pretty painful. I was out there shagging, I went to go after a baseball and it just kind of grabbed at me," Adams said of his ailment. "I don't think it's nothing crazy, it wasn't like I was throwing and got hurt."

The Phillies have a day off on Thursday to give Adams extra rest before the Reds visit Citizens Bank Park for a three-game series this weekend.