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SEATTLE -- Mariners ace Erik Bedard went on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with inflammation in his left hip, a condition that is improving.
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The move is retroactive to April 9, and Seattle's ace isn't sure when he might pitch again.
Seattle traded five players to the Baltimore Orioles in February for the 28-year-old Bedard, boosting hopes of a playoff berth this season. He was scratched from a scheduled start Sunday for the second time in eight days.
The left-hander played catch before Tuesday's game against Kansas City, then emerged from manager John McLaren's office with a trainer smiling and joking.
"It's a lot better," Bedard said, adding when asked if the pain comes and goes that "it's going now."
But when asked if he would be able to take his next turn in the rotation Friday at the Los Angeles Angels, Bedard said, "No way."
Seattle announced an hour later that Bedard was going on the DL. The Mariners will make a corresponding roster move Wednesday.
"We have said consistently that were not going to rush Erik back," McLaren said. "At this point, we thought it made the most sense to go ahead and place him on the DL. It should not change when he's available to make his next start, and gives us the ability to add another player in the meantime."
McLaren said knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, whose last major league start was 24 months ago with Texas, will likely take Bedard's turn against the Angels -- and perhaps next week's in Seattle against the Orioles. April 24 is the last day of a three-game series with Baltimore.
Bedard set an Orioles record with 221 strikeouts last season despite missing the final month of the season with a strained side muscle. He said he doesn't know when he can get back on a mound for a bullpen session, let alone a game.
"I think rest is the only thing that helps it right now," he said.
Bedard isn't sure if his hip is destined to bother him all season.
"I have no idea," he said. "My next start, we'll see. If it still hurts after that, then maybe it will be a long-term thing."
