CHICAGO – Philip Humber finally spoke up about his sore right elbow, and now the White Sox are shutting him down.

Humber, 29, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of a flexor strain in his elbow. He will be replaced in the rotation by Dylan Axelrod, who will start today against the Milwaukee Brewers.

In retrospect, Humber’s injury might help explain his recent struggles on the mound. He allowed 14 earned runs in his past 15 1⁄3 innings to increase his ERA to 6.01, the worst mark on the Sox’s pitching staff.