With forward Juan Pablo Angel doubtful for today’s home game vs. San Jose (3 p.m., ESPN2), it appears the Red Bulls (2-1) will play their third of four games this season minus half of the MLS’ most lethal strike duo.

A cortisone shot in his back should ease the inflammation for Angel, but likely not in time for him to team with Jozy Alidore. The 18-year-old has been highly reliant on Angel. Altidore has scored eight goals in the 10 games they have played together since the start of last year, but just two in the 14 games he played without the Colombian.

“A lot of the focus is definitely on him when he is in the game. That helps a lot. There’s less pressure on you. Missing him, it’ll be different,” Altidore said. “But I still think the guys will step in to make it so that defenders pay attention to them as well.”

With forward Oscar Echeverry out four weeks and Mike Magee seen more as a playmaker, veteran John Wolyniec is the most likely starting candidate. MF Claudio Reyna’s balky knee, combined with a short turnaround Thursday in Toronto, may make Magee more needed in that role.

MF/D Hunter Freeman and MF Dane Richards are doubtful, more likely to play at Toronto Thursday. If coach Juan Carlos Osorio goes with Chris Leitch instead of Carlos Mendes at right back, he will have to rebound from a poor game in last Saturday’s 1-1 tie with New England.