Phillies Place Oswalt On DL [UPDATE]

Philadelphia pitcher Roy Oswalt has landed himself on the disabled list due to a back injury that he has long been battling.  Looks like he will now be out until August.

Roy Oswalt has been dealing with lower back trouble for the last few years.  It seems that the pain has finally caught up with him.  The Phillies have placed him on the 15 day disabled list as they await the results of an MRI he had Friday afternoon.

Oswalt revealed yesterday that he had already had a couple of cortizone shots in his back so far this season. He strained his back in April while running to first base and had to exit early from that game.  He only pitched 2 innings for the Philles last night as they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 12-2.

Manager Charlie Manuel explained why sometimes it's hard to pin point exactly how hurt Oswalt actually is:

He always wants to pitch. He always says he can go. ... I don't know when he was completely healthy.

*Update*  The Phillies pitcher has a mild bulging disc in his lower back so it is unlikely that he will return until August.  Team Doctors say that Oswalt is going to get a second opinion from a specialist in Dallas, but he believes that he will be able to come back and pitch for the final two months of the season.

The biggest factor is him being on the DL right now is that he will miss his start this Wednesday as the Phillies prepare the face the Boston Red Sox.  Looks like Kyle Kendrick will get the chance now.