TORONTO (AP) -- Indians left-hander Scott Kazmir was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a strained ribcage muscle, retroactive to April 2.
Rookie right-hander Trevor Bauer is expected to start in his place against Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Kazmir felt sore after playing catch on flat ground during a team workout Monday. He threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Wednesday before returning to Cleveland for tests, which confirmed the injury. He's expected to miss two or three starts.
Kazmir hasn't pitched in the majors in almost two years. A two-time All-Star with Tampa Bay, he was released by the Los Angeles Angels in 2011 and pitched in the independent Atlantic League last year.
Acquired from Arizona last December as part of a three-team trade, Bauer is a former first-round draft pick who went 1-2 with a 6.06 ERA in four starts with the Diamondbacks last season.
Kazmir's future starts could go to right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who is currently serving a six-game suspension dating from July, 2011. Carrasco missed the end of 2011 and all of 2012 after elbow surgery
