Scott Kazmir's next turn in Tampa Bay's rotation was pushed back again yesterday, and the All-Star pitcher could be placed on the disabled list because of a sore left shoulder.

Kazmir was originally slated to start Friday night at Yankee Stadium, but was bumped back to Tuesday at home against Detroit. Now, he'll miss that scheduled outing as well, and the Devil Rays were discussing whether to put him on the DL.

The 22-year-old Kazmir had an MRI on Tuesday that revealed a bit of inflammation around his rotator cuff, and the Devil Rays want to be cautious with their budding ace.

"It's just a guarded situation," manager Joe Maddon said yesterday. "Nothing alarming or out of the ordinary. If he had to, if this was more of a September playoff situation, he probably would pitch on his normal turn. But under the circumstances that we have right now, we felt it would be more prudent to refrain at this point and push him back. It only makes sense."

If Kazmir goes on the disabled list, the move would be retroactive to July 24. The left-hander pitched well in his most recent outing, last Sunday against Baltimore.

Kazmir, the Devil Rays' lone All-Star this season, is 10-7 with a 3.36 E.R.A. in 21 starts. He has 139 strikeouts and 46 walks in 128 2/3 innings.

ROUNDUP

MATSUI ON TRACK: Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui is scheduled to have his injured left wrist reexamined Thursday in New York. If the wrist shows enough progress, Matsui might be given a timetable for taking batting practice. "My periodic checkup that I have every two weeks is Thursday," Matsui said through a translator. "Aug. 3 is when I go to the doctor and have it looked at." Matsui has been working out for the last week at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Florida. After a scheduled off day Friday, Matsui continued hitting off a tee and taking soft toss yesterday. He also worked out in the outfield.

DELGADO HURT: New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado left yesterday's game against the Atlanta Braves after being struck in the leg with a pitch in the third inning. Tim Hudson got a pitch a little too far inside that caught Delgado on the outside of his right knee, just as he was striding into his swing.

WIGGINTON INJURED: Tampa Bay Devil Rays infielder Ty Wigginton broke a bone in his left hand yesterday when he was hit by a pitch from Shawn Chacon. Wigginton was plunked in the fourth inning of Tampa Bay's game against the New York Yankees. He was replaced at first base by Travis Lee in the bottom half.