Mets’ Pitcher Johan Santana May Be Done For Season

New York Mets ace Johan Santana is headed to the disabled list and not expected to pitch again this season.

General manager Sandy Alderson said Wednesday that the left-hander was going on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his lower back.

Doctors are not recommending surgery.

Santana has had an up-and-down season in his return from shoulder surgery that kept him out more than a year. He threw the team's first no-hitter June 1 but is 3-7 with an 8.27 ERA since throwing a career-high 134 pitches in that game.

He is 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA in 21 starts overall.

The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner is in the fifth season of a $137.5 million, six-year contract.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)