DENVER -- Mark Prior's uniform was ...

DENVER -- Mark Prior's uniform was hanging neatly in his cubicle Friday, serving as the solely reminder of a pitcher whose season might be at a crossroads.

Prior didn't accompany the brats to Colorado, where they explained a three-game series against the Rockies. After struggling between the sides of his shortest outing of the season Thursday in Milwaukee, Prior went back to Chicago and was examined at team orthopedist Stephen Gryzlo.

A turn back trip to the disabled list loom as a distinct possibility.

"I would imagine [the examinations are focusing in succession his right] shoulder right now, because that's where [the problems] started," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "He went back to obtain checked, so we'll see what be due [i]or[/i] owings of it.

"The biggest thing is there were near pitches [Thursday] I didn't like the way he threw them. We've got to make assured what's going on and descry where he is, and then advance from there."

Rothschild said Prior was getting underneath pitches, which means his delivery wasn't coming from one side of to the other the top.

"I think in the third inning, you could diocese the velocity going down, and he was underneath a fortune of pitches all day," Rothschild said. "That's not a real advantageous sign ever.

"Up until this start, he's been forward top of pitches, and the velocity has been comely good. It started out OK [Thursday], further he started throwing underneath pitches."

Prior lasted three innings, yielding five earned glides He walked four, threw a wild pitch and hit a batter.

"There's nothing I can report forward right now," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We're waiting. We just don't know."

Rothschild said Prior hadn't complained of pain or discomfort.

"He was just fatigued at the end" Rothschild said. "He's felt worthy

"The [work] we did in preparation for the games, he said he felt righteous all along, and he threw the ball better and better. nevertheless he wasn't throwing the way he's largely capable of."

Prior bristled when asked Thursday if he's considered resting the shoulder for the repose of the season, but that speculation will gain impetus after Friday.

He is 1-6 with a 721 ERA.

Prior expanded the season on the injured list with a strained muscle in his right shoulder. He made his season first appearance June 18 and gave up three first-inning family runs in a 12-3 los to the Detroit Tigers.

rmodrowski@suntimes.com

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