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NEW ORLEANS -- An MRI indicates that New Orleans outside linebacker Victor Butler has a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but it is too early to speculate on whether he will miss the whole season, a person familiar with the situation said Wednesday. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Saints have not disclosed the injury, said Butler will travel to Gulf Breeze, Fla., next week to seek a second opinion from noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. The person said there remains hope that even if Butler starts the season on injured reserve, he could return as Ray Lewis did for the defending champion Baltimore Ravens late last season. The Times-Picayune first reported the MRI results for Butler, who went down during a non-contact practice on Tuesday after a collision with running back Mark Ingram. When Sean Payton addressed Butlers injury after Tuesdays practice, he said he was under the impression that the players had simply knocked knees and that Butler was not seriously injured. "I think he is going to be fine, actually," Payton said. "So we are fortunate." However, the initial MRI indicates that Butler and his new team were not fortunate at all. On Wednesday, Payton, and general manager Mickey Loomis did not respond to requests for comment on the apparent seriousness of Butlers injury. A team spokesman said only that the Saints would have no update. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Butler arrived in New Orleans this year, signing a two-year, $3 million free-agent contract, after spending his first four seasons in Dallas, which selected him out of Oregon State in the fourth round of the 2009 draft. Butler who was a defensive end in college and switched to outside linebacker in Dallas 3-4 defensive scheme, served a backup role behind DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer with the Cowboys. He was expected to compete for a starting role under new Saints defensive co-ordinator Rob Ryan, who was Butlers defensive co-ordinator in Dallas for the past two seasons and who heavily recruited Butler to New Orleans. Last season, Butler played in all 16 games with one start and was credited with a career-high 24 tackles, three sacks, a tackle for a loss, three passes defended and a forced fumble. He also played on special teams, a role in which he was credited with four stops and a forced fumble. Butler had benchmarks in his contract that would have allowed him to void the second year of the deal and enter free agency after one season -- something he was expected to do as a starter. The first $1.5 million of Butlers contract is guaranteed, but the injury may force him to play out his contract in New Orleans before getting his next shot at free agency. Edmonton Oilers Pro Shop . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. 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PITTSBURGH -- Those who primarily follow the National League -- say, for instance, Pittsburgh Pirates fans -- might not have heard much about right-hander Joe Musgrove.Musgrove (1-1, 4.18 ERA) began the season with Double-A Corpus Christi and has had arguably a meteoric start to his career with Houston. He will be on the mound Tuesday when the Astros play the second of three games at PNC Park.At 6 feet 5, 265 pounds, Musgrove, 23, can look imposing, and he has pitched accordingly -- thanks to his performance and a couple of opportunities.He was recalled from Triple-A Fresno Aug. 1 because Doug Fister was going on paternity leave. He came on in relief Aug. 2, pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Toronto and setting a major league record for strikeouts by a reliever making his major league debut with eight.The starter that day, Lance McCullers, then went on the DL, so the Astros kept Musgrove around and gave him his first start, Aug. 7 against Texas, then another and another. The statistic that jumps out: He has 23 strikeouts and three walks in 23 2/3 innings.In his first start, which turned out to be a 5-3, 11-inning Astros loss to the Rangers, Musgrove retired the first 10 batters he faced before giving up three hits in the fifth. Then he settled back down and retired seven of the last eight batters he faced as he pitched through the seventh.He tired at the end but still gutted through his performance, Astros manager A.J. Hinch told the Houston Chronicle. Thats a big step for a young kid to come up here, get his first start and finish his outing. Its really easy to nitpick at the end when youre tired, not make a pitch, and end up having me go out and get you at 6 2/3, as opposed to seven.So there was a good growth day for him. Hes got a lot of charisma, he knows what hes doing, and hes going to attack the zone. I really like what I see from his first two outings.Musgrove has gone 1-1 since that no-decision.Tuesday, he will oppose right-hander Ivan Nova (9-6, 4.83 ERA), meeaning it could be a strikeout contest.ddddddddddddNova is 2-0 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts since Pittsburgh acquired him from the Yankees. In his most recent start, a no-decision Wednesday in a 6-5 Pirates win in San Francisco, Nova gave up four runs on six hits over four innings, with five strikeouts and no walks.Houston and the Pirates are in similar battles to try to climb into a wild-card spot, but they are moving in different directions lately.The Astros 3-1 win Monday in the series opener was their fourth win in a row and kept them 3 1/2 games behind Baltimore, which holds the second American League wild-card spot.Since falling to 11 games under .500 on May 22 at 17-28, Houston is 48-32.Winning is contagious and playing good baseball is contagious, said Mondays winning pitcher, Doug Fister. Weve been playing pretty well the last few days, the best weve played in a while.The game Monday was Pittsburghs fourth loss in a row, leaving the Pirates two games behind Miami and four behind St. Louis, which holds the second National League wild-card spot.Manager Clint Hurdle often cites an even keel as critical, and hes emphasizing it even more now.Were very consistent in what we do, and one thing I remind them of is to think with reason, not to think with emotion; make decisions with reason, dont make decisions with emotion, Hurdle said. Many of them have been there in that situation before. Ive been in that situation before. Its not for lack of effort or attitude. Youre getting attitude, youre getting effort, the game can swing back and forth sometimes.Youve got to play through it. You hold fast. These are the times when the coaching staff and myself need to show up. Somebodys got to hold the wheel, keep them positive, keep them playing forward and keep them optimistic. I believe well do that because thats the way were built, the way were wired. ' ' '