MRI reveals Jays' McGowan has tear in right rotator cuff
TORONTO - Toronto Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowan will miss at least four weeks with a tear in his right rotator cuff and is facing further examination to determine whether he needs surgery or not.

The bad news came after Wednesday's 9-8 win over the Baltimore Orioles. McGowan was placed on the 15-day disabled list following an MRI earlier in the day and is slated to meet with specialist Dr. Timothy Kremchek in the coming days.

At that point film of his shoulder will be compared with that of previous years to determine whether the tear in his shoulder has worsened or not.

"The severity of it we won't really know until it calms down," said GM J.P. Ricciardi. "Then we'll know that the process is. .. Right not we're looking at probably longer than four weeks."

The Blue Jays had already juggled their rotation to get them through the all-star break, with Brian Tallet coming out of the bullpen to start Sunday in place of McGowan.

John Parrish, filling in for the injured Shaun Marcum, will start Thursday in place of Roy Halladay, who'll be pushed back a day to pitch against the New York Yankees on Friday.

Jesse Litsch, Friday's scheduled starter, goes Saturday while reliever Brian Wolfe was recalled from triple-A Syracuse to fill McGowan's roster spot.

"I certainly hope we don't have any more (injuries)," said manager Cito Gaston. "It's starting to be a problem."

McGowan left his outing Tuesday against Baltimore because of soreness in his right shoulder after just four innings and 66 pitches, saying the pain was too much to bear. His velocity was down noticeably, in the low 90s rather than in the mid-to-high 90s that is his norm.

He's had some level of tear in his shoulder for a while, as most pitchers do, but it's not clear how much more damage has been done.

David Purcey, the 2004 first-rounder, is one candidate to replace McGowan in the rotation after the all-star break, although Gaston suggested that Tallet might get some consideration as well.

Ricciardi said that decision would be made later.

The good news is that Marcum (right elbow) should be ready to go after the all-star break and is tentatively slated to pitch July 21 at Baltimore after a rehab start in the minors July 16.

Halladay, A.J. Burnett and Litsch will start the first three games out of the break in Tampa Bay.
big blow for the Jays but the front has given up on the season

still trade Burnett? they better