MIAMI (Reuters) - The Florida Marlins have placed twice All-Star pitcher Josh Johnson on the 15-day disabled list because of an inflamed right shoulder, the Major League Baseball (MLB) team said on Saturday.
Johnson, who has experienced discomfort since spring training and had an MRI scan on Friday, has been replaced on the roster by right-hander Jay Buente from Triple-A New Orleans.
"There's no good time to do it but this is probably the best time, early in the season, catch it before it carries on into other starts," Johnson, 27, told the team's website (http://florida.marlins.mlb.com).
"I'm kind of at peace with it. It took everything I had to go and say something. Once I did, it almost felt better, (as if) something lifted off my shoulders."
Johnson, whose pitching speed dipped to 91 mph in his last start, is 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA in nine games this season.
He worked five innings in his most recent start against the New York Mets on Monday, giving up one run in a no-decision before being pulled after throwing 85 pitches.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Clare Fallon)
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