Burnett placed on 15-Day DL

[Appels]

Burnett to miss two starts

The Jays newest pitcher is expected to toss three or four innings Saturday in Toronto's final spring training game against triple-A Syracuse.

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) -- Toronto Blue Jays right-hander A.J. Burnett will miss his first two starts of the season and start the year on the disabled list.

Burnett, signed to a $55-million-US, five-year contract during the off-season, took himself out of a game March 18 with what an MRI later revealed as scar tissue in his right elbow.

GM J.P. Ricciardi said Wednesday that Burnett will make his first start against the Chicago White Sox on April 16. Burnett, three years removed from elbow surgery, threw off a mound Tuesday and the Jays want to be cautious.

"He's going to miss his first two starts," Ricciardi said. "We could probably bring him back a little quicker, but I think all things being equal this allows him to keep him totally on track to where he's supposed to be."

Ricciardi said Burnett will pitch three or four innings Saturday in Toronto's final spring training game against triple-A Syracuse. He will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list and make rehab starts April 6 and 11.

Burnett signed with Toronto after going 12-12 with a 3.44 ERA for the Florida Marlins in 2005.

The 29-year-old was a key piece of Toronto's off-season overhaul. The Blue Jays also added closer B.J. Ryan for $47 million over five years, and traded for slugger Troy Glaus and first baseman Lyle Overbay.

[YouDontKnowMe1633]

has great stuff but the injury bug has been getting to him lately