Andy Pettitte, one of the most durable pitchers in baseball, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with soreness in his left elbow.
Pettitte, who has made at least 25 starts in each of the last seven seasons, is a mainstay of the latest Yankees dynasty. But the 29-year-old southpaw has struggled in his eighth major league season.
After battling elbow injuries from the start of spring training, Pettitte was able to open the season in the rotation. But he left Monday's start against the Boston Red Sox after three innings and missed his turn Saturday.
In the top six among active pitchers in winning percentage and wins since 1996, Pettitte is 1-1 with a 3.08 ERA this season.
New York, the defending American League champion, already is without lefthander Sterling Hitchcock.
Ted Lilly likely will assume Pettitte's spot in the rotation.
