Phillies placed LHP Cliff Lee on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 19, with a Grade 1/2 flexor strain of his left elbow. The diagnosis certainly could have been worse, and the Phillies are hopeful that Lee will be ready to go when his 15 days are up (though it's hardly a given). The veteran left-hander will be shut down for the next week before attempting to resume a throwing program. The Phillies haven't announced who will take Lee's rotation spot on Saturday.

Cliff Lee will be placed on the disabled list after an MRI revealed a Grade 1/2 strain of his left elbow. "It's pretty mild," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said. "But it is a strain and we want to be careful." It could have been much worse, but it's worrisome anytime there's a strain in the elbow. The club is hoping that Lee will need a minimal stay on the disabled list, but it's far from a given. The veteran lefty holds a 3.18 ERA over 10 starts this season.

Cliff Lee underwent an MRI on his sore left elbow Tuesday. Yikes. Lee has apparently pitched through an elbow strain in recent starts and experienced a velocity decline. The Phillies are still awaiting the results of Tuesday's exam. Lee is currently scheduled to face the Dodgers this weekend, but obviously whether he'll be ready for that outing is up in the air.

Cliff Lee got the win, allowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings as the Phillies defeated the Reds 8-3 on Sunday. The Reds jumped out to an early 2-0 lead against Lee, but the left-hander settled down, shutting them out the rest of the way until his departure in the seventh. Overall, Lee allowed nine hits, walked one, and struck out three, lowering his ERA to 3.18 in the process. His strikeout rate has been curiously low but the results are there nonetheless. Lee will go for win number five next weekend against the Dodgers.

Cliff Lee took the loss on Tuesday, allowing four runs (none earned) in seven innings as the Angels defeated the Phillies 4-3. Lee pitched very well on the night, but Cody Asche's three errors at third base proved costly. Overall, the left-hander allowed six hits, walked one, and struck out seven. Lee has had an odd season, but owns a 3.23 ERA with a 58/8 K/BB ratio. He'll look to even out his record, currently 3-4, in his next start on the road against the Marlins.

Cliff Lee allowed six runs in 6 1/3 innings and earned the loss in Wednesday's defeat at the hands of the Blue Jays. Lee looked solid enough through six, but the Jays figured him out in the seventh. Edwin Encarnacion (triple), Erik Kratz (home run), Dioner Navarro (single), Juan Francisco (home run), and Shawn Tolleson (double) all struck the baseball quite hard in a tough seventh inning for the lefty. Overall, Lee allowed seven hits, walked one, and struck out six. Lee will look to rebound at home against the Angels in his next start.

Cliff Lee gave up two runs (one earned) over seven strong innings Friday in a no-decision against the Nationals. Lee held the Nationals to just four hits (including a home run) and a pair of walks while striking out five batters. The veteran southpaw has allowed three earned runs or fewer in six straight starts since Opening Day and now holds a 3.00 ERA and 45/6 K/BB ratio over 48 innings for the year. He'll look to keep it going next week against the Blue Jays in Toronto next week.

Cliff Lee surrendered five runs -- three earned -- in six innings Saturday in a no-decision vs. Arizona. The Phillies rallied for four runs in the top of the eighth inning to grab the lead from the host D'Backs, who are now 8-19 on the year. Lee was uncharacteristically ineffective, yielding all five runs in the first three innings and eight hits in total. The ace left-hander should be able to right the ship next week against the Nationals.

Cliff Lee fired eight shutout frames, striking out 10, in a 7-0 win over the Dodgers on Monday. Los Angeles was flummoxed, eking out four singles and zero walks against the perennial Cy Young contender. Do you remember when Lee coughed up eight runs in five innings on Opening Day against the Rangers? No? Good, because we don't either. In the four starts since, he's surrendered just four runs over 30 innings, and posted an utterly insane 37/1 K/BB ratio in so doing. Lee faces a dangerous lineup in a difficult environment this weekend, but his odds for a win against the demoralized Bronson Arroyo and the punch-drunk Diamondbacks are high.

Cliff Lee was dominant in Wednesday's start against the Braves, but earned a loss despite allowing one run in a complete game on Wednesday. Lee's only blemish came courtesy an Evan Gattis solo home run in the fourth inning that barely escaped the fence in the left field corner. Overall, Lee struck out 13, allowed 11 hits, and walked one. Over his first four starts, he has exemplified the vagaries of BABIP, but has also been around the strike zone a little too much, some might argue. Regardless, he now sports a 28:2 K:BB ratio.