Blue Jays placed RHP Carlos Villanueva on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain.

Villanueva suffered the injury during his Wednesday evening start, in which he allowed eight runs (including three homers) in just 2 2/3 innings of work. He's likely to miss three weeks, or maybe even longer.

Blue Jays manager John Farrell said that Carlos Villanueva was sent for an MRI on his right arm for precautionary reasons.

"He wasn't feeling discomfort," said Farrell. "I think just physically he is starting to fatigue. You see it with a little bit less velocity, particularly the action to the secondary stuff. That's where you see the reduced arm speed not allowing that good bottoming out action to his changeup or any sharpness to his slider." Villanueva has already thrown 97 2/3 innings this season, his highest total since 2008, so the Blue Jays are justifiably concerned about his workload. It's possible he could have his next start skipped, though Farrell said that left-hander Luis Perez and top pitching prospect Henderson Alvarez are candidates to replace him in the rotation if he is forced to miss significant time.

Carlos Villanueva is undergoing an MRI on Thursday.

No word on the specific nature of the injury, but Villanueva has allowed 20 runs over his last four starts and Blue Jays manager John Farrell expressed concerns about fatigue following Wednesday's game. Stay tuned for an update on his status.

Carlos Villanueva got lit up by the Rays on Wednesday evening, allowing eight runs on nine hits and three home runs in just 2 2/3 innings of a Blue Jays loss.

Ben Zobrist, Casey Kotchman and Robinson Chirinos all took him deep, while Desmond Jennings notched a triple. The home run was the first of Chirinos' career. Villanueva has now allowed at least four runs in three of his past four starts, and watched his ERA explode from 2.99 to 4.24. He'll get the A's at home his next time out.

Carlos Villanueva did enough to win Thursday, surrendering four runs on six hits and two walks over five innings in an 8-5 win over the Orioles.

He struck out just one and allowed a pair of home runs. Villanueva has gone through a little rut of late, giving up 12 runs over his last 16 2/3 innings. Still, he holds a 3.60 ERA and 1.18 WHIP for the season, as he's given the Blue Jays some fine work both out of the bullpen and in the rotation. He'll square off with the Orioles again next week in his next trip to the hill.

Carlos Villanueva didn't have it against the Yankees on Sunday, allowing five runs on eight hits in six innings of a Blue Jays loss.

He struck out six and walked one in falling to 5-2 on the season. The non-quality outing was his first in seven starts, and ups his ERA to 3.31 and WHIP to 1.11. He's got a tough outing lined up for his next time out, where he's set to take on the Rangers in Texas.

Carlos Villanueva silenced the Indians' bats Thursday, holding them scoreless on six hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings before watching the Jays' bullpen fall apart in a loss.

The seven strikeouts were a career high for the right-hander. Villanueva has pitched quite well since joining the rotation in late May, posting a 3.60 ERA over nine starts while going 4-1. He boasts a 2.99 ERA and 1.09 WHIP overall on the year when you add in his earlier work out of the bullpen. He's earned a fairly secure spot in the rotation for the immediate future.

Carlos Villanueva yielded three runs over 6 2/3 innings in Saturday's loss to the Phillies.

Villanueva left the game with a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh, but Luis Perez gave up a two-run homer to Chase Utley to put the Phillies in front. All told, he gave up five hits and four walks (one intentional) against three starts. While he was denied the win, Villanueva has allowed three runs or less in four consecutive starts. His 3.24 ERA appears unsustainable, but he makes for a solid option in AL-only leagues against the Indians next week.

The Blue Jays have pushed Carlos Villanueva's next start to Saturday against the Phillies.

The Jays want to begin limiting Villanueva's innings where they can. He totaled just 52 2/3 frames last season as a reliever for the Brewers and is already up to 65 2/3 innings this year as a swing man for Toronto.

Carlos Villanueva allowed just two runs on seven hits over seven innings of work on Sunday afternoon, but got stuck with the loss in Toronto's 2-1 setback in Cincinnati.

He struck out three and walked none. Villanueva's only mistake of the afternoon, a pitch that Miguel Cairo took deep for a two-run homer in the sixth, proved to be a costly one. The loss was Villanueva's first of the season in six starts. Through 59 2/3 innings of work (including his bullpen innings), he still owns a solid 3.17 ERA and 1.04 WHIP.

Carlos Villanueva allowed three runs over six innings as part of a no-decision in Tuesday's win over the Orioles.

He struck out three, giving up seven hits and two walks. He's 3-0 in five starts since moving into Toronto's rotation and has gone six innings or more in his last two outings. Villanueva is worth owning in AL-only leagues. He'll take a 3.25 ERA into next week's date with the Braves.

Carlos Villanueva allowed four runs on six hits and one walk in seven innings of work on Wednesday evening, which was good enough for a win in Toronto's 9-8 victory over the Royals.

He struck out five. Most of the damage came in the third, where Villanueva allowed a three-run homer to Melky Cabrera. He is now 3-0 in four starts since moving into Toronto's rotation, however, while tonight was the first time he pitched longer than 5 1/3 innings. His next start should come on Tuesday against the Orioles.

Carlos Villanueva allowed six runs -- five earned -- over five innings as part of a no-decision in Saturday's extra-inning win over the White Sox.

Villanueva held the lead until giving up three runs in the top of the fifth inning. He allowed eight hits -- including a two-run shot to Brent Lillibridge -- while striking out four, walking one and throwing a wild pitch. His ERA jumped from 1.53 to 2.62. Villanueva has failed in previous attempts as a starter and we have no reason to believe things will suddenly change now. Avoid him in fantasy leagues.

Carlos Villanueva will stay in the rotation to start Saturday against the White Sox.

Villanueva earned himself another opportunity after tossing five innings of one-run ball in Monday's win over the Yankees. He has failed miserably as a starting pitcher in the past, so we wouldn't recommend him as a fantasy option.

Making his first start of the season on Monday, Carlos Villanueva out-dueled Bartolo Colon at Yankee Stadium, allowing just one run on two hits and one walk in five innings of a 7-2 Blue Jays victory.

He struck out five. Villanueva was limited to 75 pitches this evening, but should probably be able to throw around 90 in his next start in place of Jesse Litsch. If it goes similarly well, the Blue Jays may have to consider leaving him in the rotation.

Blue Jays and RHP Carlos Villanueva avoided arbitration Saturday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.415 million contract.

He was arbitration-eligible for the second time this winter. Villanueva earned $950,000 last season while posting a 4.61 ERA and 67/22 K/BB over 52 2/3 innings, all in relief. The Jays acquired the 27-year-old right-hander from the Brewers last month.

Blue Jays acquired RHP Carlos Villanueva from the Brewers for a player to be named later.

Carlos Villanueva couldn't hold a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth Friday against the Twins.

Villanueva was charged with his first blown save after the Brewers scored five in the top of the ninth to take a 7-6 lead. He preserved the tie after giving up a run and went on to pitch a scoreless 10th, but this won't help his chances of getting more save opportunities.

Carlos Villanueva earned his first save of the season Thursday as the Brewers topped the Pirates 4-3.

Tough the Brewers haven't made it official, Villanueva is the logical choice to fill in for Trevor Hoffman at closer until the veteran gets his mojo back. And on Thursday he made a real statement, throwing a perfect ninth inning against the Pirates. The 26-year-old Villanueva is worth owning in all leagues.