Sveum made the announcement Wednesday before the start of the National League Division Series playoffs against Philadelphia.

"It is close to the joint (and) the only thing that heals it is rest," Sheets told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel earlier this week. The short term is not good. Long term would be fine. I'm just glad it's not something that's (both) short and long term."

The oft-injured Sheets, the tenth overall pick in the 1999 amateur player draft in 1999, had been left off Milwaukee's playoff roster and his replacement against the Phillies, Yovani Gallardo, lasted just four innings and faced a 3-0 deficit.

This season, Sheets compiled a 13-9 record in 198 1/3 innings (31 starts) with only 47 walks and 158 strikeouts.