Edmonds could be out three weeks

San Diego Padres center fielder Jim Edmonds is expected to be sidelined two to three weeks because of a strained right calf, a setback for a team that was a bit shaky in the outfield to begin with.

“I’m guarded on this one,” Manager Bud Black said Friday afternoon, several hours after the 37-year-old Edmonds had an MRI exam. “I’m hoping for the best that hopefully it’ll be a couple of weeks, that’s it. I think it will become clearer tomorrow.”

Edmonds is scheduled to be seen by a team doctor today.

General Manager Kevin Towers later said Edmonds could be out two to three weeks, which could push his return close to opening day.

Edmonds was hurt breaking out of the batter’s box during Thursday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.

“With all I went through this winter and being with a new team, all I can say is it’s not what I’m looking for,” Edmonds said.

With Edmonds out, the Padres will look at Scott Hairston, Jody Gerut, Jeff DaVanon and Callix Crabbe in center field. Hairston also is in the mix in left, but Towers said he’ll probably get more time in center in the next few weeks.

Pedro Martinez threw 53 pitches in a simulated game, one day after his first scheduled spring start for the New York Mets was rained out.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner said he felt sluggish, especially at the start of his early morning session -- a time when he’s usually stretching and doing his conditioning.

He threw the equivalent of two innings and got only two swinging strikes, but declared himself on schedule for the start of the season.

Oft-injured left-hander Mike Hampton of the Atlanta Braves left his spring training start because of a strained right groin.

Hampton, who hasn’t pitched in a major league game since August 2005, made it to the second inning of his second outing this spring. After Detroit’s Scott Sizemore fouled off a pitch, Atlanta catcher Brian McCann went to the mound, as did Manager Bobby Cox and assistant trainer Jim Lovell.

Hampton walked off the mound and into the dugout after throwing 38 pitches, 19 for strikes.

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has a sore right shoulder and is expected to be limited to designated hitter until early next week. He said he felt discomfort Thursday and the shoulder bothers him when he throws.