SAN FRANCISCO -- An MRI of Randy Johnson's left shoulder on Monday revealed only a strain, but that will be enough to put the Big Unit on the shelf for at least two or three weeks.A day after Johnson strained his shoulder swinging a bat, he was placed on the disabled list. Jonathan Sanchez, who had lost his spot in the starting rotation, will take Johnson's next start on Friday.
"He's disappointed that he's having to go on the disabled list because he was throwing great till yesterday," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
Johnson is 8-6 with a 4.81 ERA. He had tweaked his shoulder making a throw to last month in Washington -- in the same game he won No. 300. This time he was swinging a bat against Houston's Roy Oswalt on Sunday. Johnson tried to pitch through the injury, but he lasted only one more inning.
Now the Giants will turn to Sanchez, who got bounced from the rotation a couple weeks ago. Sanchez was 2-8 with a 5.62 ERA. He has not allowed a run in four innings out of the bullpen since his demotion.
The Giants could use a good outing from Sanchez for a couple reasons. Obviously it would help them win in Johnson's absence. It also might help to drum up a little more interest in Sanchez on the trade market. The Giants are trying to get a bat, and Sanchez seems to be the guy they are dangling. For obvious reasons, so far there hasn't been much interest.
