Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Josh Johnson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right triceps.
Johnson, 29, was scratched from his scheduled start against the New York Yankees last week after feeling tightness in the triceps. The right-hander underwent an MRI that revealed no structural damage.
To replace Johnson on the active roster, Toronto recalled reliever Brad Lincoln from Triple-A Buffalo.
The Blue Jays also announced Thursday that Ricky Romero will be promoted from the minors and take Johnson's spot in the starting rotation. Romero, who was demoted to Single-A Dunedin after a lackluster spring training, will make his season debut Friday against the Seattle Mariners.
Acquired this past offseason as part of a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins, Johnson has struggled over his first four starts with the Blue Jays, going 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA.
Romero was Toronto's Opening Day starter in 2012 and had been projected as the fifth starter in the Blue Jays' revamped rotation this season. But after going 9-14 with a 5.77 ERA last season, the left-hander was demoted to the minors on March 26 after posting a 6.23 ERA in five spring starts.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
