CLEVELAND, June 7 (UPI) -- Cleveland Indians starter Jake Westbrook needs right elbow surgery and will miss the rest of the season, the team says.
The right-hander was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 28 because of elbow soreness after a start against the Chicago White Sox.
The team said on its Web site Saturday that Westbrook's surgery will be performed by elbow specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles in the next 7-14 days.
Dr. Mark Schickendantz, the Indians' medical director, discovered an elbow ligament tear last Tuesday and recommended the surgery.
"If you pitch long enough at a high level, you're going to experience some sort of arm breakdown, whether it be shoulder or elbow," said Cleveland head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff.
For the season, Westbrook, 30, went 1-2 with a 3.12 earned run average. He walked seven batters and struck out 19 in 34 2/3 innings (five starts) and he has a 63-64 career record.
