Updated

Scott Kazmir's return to a major league mound will have to wait at least a couple of more weeks, as the Cleveland Indians announced Thursday that the veteran pitcher will be placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right rib cage.

Kazmir had already been scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday because of the injury, which occurred while he was playing catch prior to Monday's season opener.

The appearance would have been Kazmir's first in the majors since April 3, 2011, while then a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was sent to the DL with a fatigued shoulder following that start and released by the Angels during June of that season, then pitched in the independent Atlantic League last year.

Kazmir, who led the American League with 239 strikeouts with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007 and was twice named an AL All-Star (2006, '08), signed a minor league contract with the Indians in January and won the No. 5 starter's job during spring training.

Highly regarded prospect Trevor Bauer is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Columbus and take Kazmir's rotation spot for Saturday's game against Tampa Bay.

The third overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by Arizona, Bauer was traded by the Diamondbacks to the Indians as part of a three-team deal with Cincinnati in December. The 22-year-old went 1-2 with a 6.06 ERA in four starts with Arizona last season.