MLB Brewers' Sheets to miss a month

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Ben Sheets will miss four to six weeks after an ultrasound Monday revealed a partial tear of the tissue surrounding the tendon in his right middle finger.

Sheets left his start Saturday night in the fourth inning after he felt something pop while throwing a 3-2 pitch that Colorado's Todd Helton fouled off. The Brewers placed him on the 15-day disabled list Monday and called up pitcher Grant Balfour to take his place.

Brewers officials said Sheets will rest for 10 to 14 days and then begin to throw with a splint.

"What we're going to do is we're going to rest him for a couple of days and see if his finger feels better and then we'll start him on a rehab program," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "How long we're going to rest him depends on how long it takes for the finger to feel a little better."

Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash was unsure how much time Sheets will miss.

"That could be four to six weeks, total," Ash said. "He's been through a number of these injury situations, so he's as good at rehab as anyone."

Sheets made the National League All-Star team and is 10-4 with a 3.39 ERA.

Rookie Yovani Gallardo pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up only one hit when he replaced Sheets in the Brewers' 2-1, 10-inning victory Saturday and will take Sheets' spot in the five-man rotation. Gallardo is 1-1 with a 2.83 ERA.

-- AP