R.A. Dickey Placed on 15-Day Disabled List

Unfortunately the 2013 season looks to be following the trend that 2012 started. With Brett Lawrie already on the shelf for the first week of the season, R.A. Dickey will now be joining him on the disabled list. It's been reported that Dickey has a strained UCL that had been bothering him since pitching in the World Baseball Classic. He was scheduled to start the home opener against the Cleveland Indians tomorrow but will now be out for at least two weeks.

BlueJayzInsider was the first to report the news, tweeting out this morning:

@BlueJayzInsider Opening Day Strter Dickey to 15-Day DL with strained UCL. Morrow to start tmr

After so much fanfare surrounding the beginning of the season, this news coupled with Lawrie starting on the DL will definitely dampen the excitement around the team. Blue Jays beat writer Garry Davis tweeted out news of Dickey's replacement shortly after the news was leaked saying:

@GaryDavis Brett Cecil will be the 5th starter and will pitch April 6th. Goins called up

So the Jays go back to having a 7 man bullpen with 4 guys on the bench. Once Lawrie and Dickey return to the line-up it'll be interesting to see how Alex Anthopoulos deals with the surplus of players. If Aaron Loup struggles it will likely be him who is sent down to Buffalo.

Other news and notes for April:

• Canadian reliever and Milwaukee Brewer John Axford was born on this date in 1983
• It is April Fools' Day......