Reds' Homer Bailey heads to disabled list with elbow strain

The Cincinnati Reds have placed right-hander Homer Bailey on the 15-day disabled list with a flexor mass strain in his right elbow, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. It seems that Bailey's injury will not require surgery, and that he is expected back sometime before the end of the season.

Bailey was scheduled to take on the Red Sox Wednesday, but Cincinnati pushed back his start until Saturday in hopes that rest would prove to be the solution, however, that appears not to have worked, and he will now deal with the same injury that has affected teammates Jonathan Broxton and Mat Latos in the recent past. Broxton ultimately had to undergo surgery, but Latos was able to avoid it, though he did miss the start of this season while healing. The injury marks Bailey's first trip to the disabled list since 2011.

The 28-year-old Bailey got off to a rough start this season after signing a massive six-year, $105 million extension during the winter. He has turned things around of late, and is currently in the midst of a seven start stretch that has seen him allow just nine runs in 50 innings pitched. Overall, in 145.2 innings pitched this season, Bailey has a 3.71 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 7.7 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 1.6 WAR

At 60-60, the Reds are currently six games back in the NL Central, and 3.5 in the NL Wild Card race. A 90-win team last season, the Reds have been ravaged by injuries this season, as key contributors such as Latos, Jay Bruce, and Aroldis Chapman have all spent time on the DL at some point this season, while Joey Votto, Sean Marshall, and Brandon Phillips are currently out.