Lackey to miss 3-4 weeks

[Marlins]

Wow...2 big arms on the DL for the Angels now...Lackey and Escobar.

John Lackey is expected to miss most of April after being diagnosed with a strained triceps.

It's a new problem in a different location than the elbow soreness that limited him at the beginning of the spring. The Angels will shut him down completely for 3-4 weeks, so he's going to miss his first five or so regular-season starts. Dustin Moseley most likely will join the rotation as a fifth starter. With now three pitchers set to start off on the DL (Kelvim Escobar and Chris Bootcheck being the others), the Angels figure to attempt to pick up at least one middle reliever before the end of the spring. Darren O'Day suddenly looks like a good bet to make the team.

[Marlins]

Update: Lackey won't be back until mid-May...

The Los Angeles Angels' rotation and, possibly, the team's division title hopes, were dealt a significant blow Saturday when ace John Lackey was diagnosed with a strained right triceps, an injury that will sideline the right-hander until at least mid-May the Los Angeles Times reported.

Lackey, who hasn't missed a start in his six-year big league career but has been limited by a sore elbow to one exhibition start this spring, felt discomfort after Wednesday's bullpen workout and said his elbow "locked up pretty good" Friday.

An MRI test revealed the strain, which is just above the elbow, on the outside of Lackey's arm. Lackey, who was 19-9 with an American League-leading 3.01 earned run average last season, will be held out of baseball-related activities for three to four weeks and won't throw until mid-April. He'll need at least four or five minor league starts to build up arm strength, so in a best-case scenario, Lackey won't be ready until mid-May. Escobar, who was 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA in 2007, hopes to return by early May.