Martinez to return for Mets on Monday

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The New York Mets announced on Saturday that three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez will return from a season-long layoff caused by shoulder surgery and pitch against the Cincinnati Reds on the road on Monday.

Martinez underwent rotator cuff surgery last October and will make his return two days shy of the anniversary of the operation. He said he has been told by doctors he is the first pitcher ever to pitch less than a year after this surgery.

"I don't feel any real big emotions," Martinez told reporters. "The second (start) is going to be bigger than the first (to see how he reacts)."

He will be limited to 75 pitches in his first outing.

Martinez is 206-92 lifetime, 24-16 in two seasons with the Mets. He is in the third year of a four-year contract and a successful September return would be a major lift to the Mets, the leaders of the National League East.