Braves place struggling Colon on DL with oblique strain
Bartolo Colon's disastrous start to 2017 just got a little worse, as the struggling veteran is headed to the disabled list.
Just a day after Colon allowed eight runs in less than four innings of work - the latest in a string of miserable starts to begin the season - the Atlanta Braves announced Tuesday that the 44-year-old right-hander has been placed on the 10-day DL with a left oblique strain.
Atlanta recalled right-hander Jason Hursh from Double-A Mississippi in a corresponding move.
Colon, the oldest player in baseball, was signed to a $12.5-million deal by the rebuilding Braves in the winter following a surprising All-Star season with the Mets. Instead of continuing to turn defy Father Time, however, Colon's been the worst pitcher in MLB by most measurable statistics.
The former AL Cy Young winner's 7.78 ERA is the highest among qualified pitchers in baseball, and easily his career-worst mark. He's allowed at least four runs in six of his 12 outings, and has been tagged for at least seven runs in each of his last three starts. On Monday night, Colon was tagged for eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings by the lowly Phillies.
Colon's 1.71 WHIP is already the worst single-season mark of his career.
Since 2013, Colon has not missed any of his scheduled starts.