Blue Jays Put Burnett on DL

June 19, 2007 @ 14:26:44

By KFFL Staff
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

TSN.ca reports Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher A.J. Burnett (shoulder) has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain.

Burnett started to feel pain in his right shoulder during a start June 12 against the San Francisco Giants. The injury may simply be a result of being overworked since Burnett did say that he had been throwing a lot of pitches before the injury occurred. The team has stated that, since the injury started to show up, it seemed like a short-term injury, but Burnett does have a shaky injury history.

Burnett was scheduled to start again Tuesday, June 19, but because the Blue Jays had two off-days since Burnett's injury, they were able to use a temporary four-man rotation.

The team has recalled pitcher Ty Taubenheim from Triple-A Syracuse. He is expected to take Burnett's turn in the rotation Saturday, June 23. Taubenheim has been ineffective this year with Syracuse, putting up a 3-5 record with a 5.63 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 64 innings. He was better with Syracuse last season, with a 2-4 record, 2.85 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings. However, with the Blue Jays in 2006, Taubenheim posted a 1-5 record with a 4.89 ERA.

Taubenheim wouldn't appear to be a good option to replace Burnett, so it is best to look outside the Blue Jays organization for a fantasy replacement. If he is still available after making his first major league start Monday, June 18, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo is a very talented pitcher who should provide the high strikeout ratios that Burnett did. Gallardo was 8-3 with a 2.90 ERA and 110 strikeouts before getting called up from Triple-A Nashville this season. In his debut, Gallardo gave up three earned runs while striking out four in 6 1/3 innings.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Sean Marshall has been on fire lately and is another player to consider. He is 3-2 with a 2.12 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 34 innings this season. Marshall has made five starts since being called up from Triple-A Iowa and has not given up more than two earned runs in a game.

Burnett owners should stash him on a DL spot for not, and if they don't have one, he's not a player to drop. Given Burnett's history, owners may understandably be discouraged, but this injury doesn't sound very serious. Stay tuned to KFFL for more information.

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

 

---

What do you think? We want to hear from you!

Name: E-mail: Please, enter the number that you see

Comment Guidelines

Talk Sports 24/7!
KFFL Sports Forums: Over 24,000 strong and growing!

One Day FREE Fantasy Contest - $350 in cash prizes (05/24)
Fantasy Closer Hot Seat: Addison Reed, J.J. Putz, Ernesto Frieri, more (05/24)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Brian Roberts seeing the light at the end of the rehab tunnel (05/24)
Fantasy baseball players in the news (05/24)
Fantasy football players in the news (05/24)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Dee Gordon's problems at bat (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Player Prospecting: Will Smith, Yordano Ventura, Wil Myers, more (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Roundtable: How trade talks develop (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: Tyler Clippard, J.J. Putz (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Mark Teixeira's ill beginnings (05/23)