Sutton Placed on 21-Day Disabled List With Sprained Elbow

Dodger pitcher Don Sutton, who says he hasn’t missed a start since 1969, was placed on the 21-day disabled list Friday with a severely sprained right elbow.

“I’m going to go through withdrawal,” Sutton said before the Dodgers’ game with the Chicago Cubs. “How do you treat starter’s withdrawal?”

Sutton, who is 3-5 with a 3.70 earned-run average in 15 starts this season, said he hurt his elbow on the same play he injured his back during his start Tuesday against Houston, fielding a tapper hit by Astro catcher Craig Biggio.

“That was the real catalyst,” Sutton said. “I didn’t think much about it then, but it got to the point the following day where it had blown up some. It looked like Alley Oop.”

Sutton, who has made 755 starts in his career, could recall missing just four starts in 23 seasons. “Three of ‘em were with a pulled muscle in my elbow, the other was when I slept wrong and got a crick in my shoulder,” Sutton said. “It’s been awhile.

“It’s a normal day when something’s uncomfortable. It just goes with the territory.”

In other medical news, trainer Charlie Strasser said that Pedro Guerrero, who is suffering from a pinched nerve in his neck, showed “definite improvement” but will undergo more tests today. Also, pitcher Mario Soto, as expected, has been placed on the 21-day disabled list with an ailing right shoulder, and Alfredo Griffin, who will be examined again today, has been placed on the 30-day disabled list. Griffin, out since May 21 when he was struck on the right hand by Met pitcher Dwight Gooden, can be activated at any time.

To take Sutton’s place on the roster, the Dodgers purchased the contract of pitcher Bill Krueger from Albuquerque, N.M. Krueger, a left-hander, was 10-2 with a 2.85 ERA with the Dukes. He is expected to arrive in time for tonight’s game with the Cubs.