San Diego Padres starting pitcher Josh Johnson will be out for one month to five weeks with a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm.
Johnson will begin the season on the disabled list, according to the Los Angeles Times. He underwent surgery in October to remove a bone spur and loose bodies from his right elbow.
The Padres had limited Johnson’s work this spring as a precaution. The right-hander had pitched 13 1/3 innings, posting a 3.38 ERA.
Last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, Johnson was on the DL twice with triceps inflammation and a forearm strain. The injuries limited him to 16 games and 81 1/3 innings. The 30-year-old finished with a 2-8 record and an 6.20 ERA in 2013.
Robbie Erlin, a 23-year-old left-hander, is considered a potential replacement for Johnson’s spot in the Padres’ rotation.