[Tommy]

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Ben Sheets was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 21st with vestibular neuritis.

In his last start, the right-handed hurler suffered a 6-1 setback to the Houston Astros. He surrendered six runs -- four earned -- on nine hits in six-plus innings. Sheets was questionable up until game time after feeling miserable for most of the day and missed his next scheduled start versus St. Louis.

For the season, Sheets has started four games and is 1-3 with a 3.95 ERA.

The 26-year-old hurler signed the biggest contract in franchise history six days ago. Sheets, who had inked a one-year $6 million deal in the offseason to avoid arbitration, signed a four-year contract extension worth $38.5 million.

The Brewers' Most Valuable Pitcher in 2004, Sheets was 12-14 last season with a 2.70 earned run average. He also set the franchise record for strikeouts with 264 and finished second in the National League in that category behind Randy Johnson (290).

In a related move, the Brewers have purchased the contract of pitcher Julio Santana from Triple-A Nashville.

04/29 19:27:00 ET

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