Major League Baseball

Mariners' Bedard to DL with sprained knee

Published Jun. 29, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Seattle Mariners' stellar starting rotation took a hit Wednesday when left-hander Erik Bedard was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left knee.

The Mariners selected catcher Jose Yepez from Triple-A Tacoma to take Bedard's spot. The move is retroactive to June 28 and Bedard may just miss one start before he is eligible to come off the DL, depending on how Seattle uses its off days between now and the All-Star break.

Bedard last threw on Monday night against Atlanta, giving up three runs and four hits in seven innings during a 3-1 loss. Bedard entered that start with the best ERA in baseball over the previous two months and is 4-6 with a 3.00 ERA this season after missing all last year following shoulder surgery.

''We knew he was feeling a little something after his last start and has been working through it since then,'' Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. ''We put him on the 15-day DL and we hope it is not much more than that.''

Wedge said the Mariners are trying to figure out who will start Sunday against San Diego.

The latest injury continues Bedard's string of health problems since being acquired by Seattle before the 2008 season, although all his problems before now were arm related. Bedard went 20 months between major league starts, missing the entire 2010 season. He also missed parts of the 2008 and '09 seasons with arm problems.

Since joining the Mariners, Bedard is 15-13 with a 3.15 ERA in 45 starts.

Pitcher Chaz Roe was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Yepez.