Jose Fernandez to DL with right elbow sprain

LOS ANGELES -- Marlins ace Jose Fernandez will not make his scheduled start on Wednesday against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The right-hander will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right elbow, Miami manager Mike Redmond said on Monday.

Fernandez had an MRI exam with Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, and the Marlins are waiting on the results. The pitcher will fly back to Miami to meet with Marlins team physician Dr. Lee Kaplan. The fear is that Fernandez might need Tommy John surgery but the club will wait on MRI results.

"You're always concerned when you're talking about elbows," Redmond said. "We're just waiting to find out."

The Marlins recalled reliever Dan Jennings from Triple-A New Orleans, but haven't yet made a decision of whom will start in the series finale Wednesday, against Paul Maholm of the Dodgers.

"We've got some guys who can make that start, whether it be [Kevin] Slowey or [Brad] Hand," said Redmond. "We've also got some options down below."

Fernandez, 21, is 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA this season, with a major-league-leading 70 strikeouts in 51⅔ innings. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2013 and finished third in NL Cy Young balloting behind Clayton Kershaw and the Cardinals' Adam Wainwright.

The Dodgers faced Fernandez once this season. He struck out 10 in seven innings on May 4 in Miami, but also allowed three runs in a no-decision. He allowed six runs in five innings, including two home runs, on Friday night against the Padres at Petco Park. His velocity dipped in the latter innings in San Diego, and after the game Fernandez told Redmond he felt something in his elbow.

"I just thought he wasn't feeling good because of the flu and because of him throwing up. He still threw some crisp pitches, and he did still hit 97 [mph]," Redmond said. "I wasn't really that concerned until he came into my office and told me that he wasn't feeling good."

In 36 major league starts, Fernandez is 16-8 with a 2.25 ERA with 257 strikeouts in 224⅓ innings.