UPDATE: Jose Fernandez headed to 15-day DL after MRI

Oh, no.

Multiple sources are reporting that early-season Cy Young award candidate and Miami Marlins saving grace Jose Fernandez is headed to the disabled list following an MRI in Los Angeles.

Marlins manager Mike Redmond addressed the media Monday evening before the team began a three game series at Dodger Stadium.

This news comes three days after the Marlins ace labored through one of the worst starts of his young major league career. Fernandez allowed six runs (five earned) including two Jedd Gyorko home runs in five-plus innings against a lackluster San Diego Padres lineup.

Before the start Fernandez reportedly was suffering from a stomach flu, possibly linked to food poisoning from a steak dinner he enjoyed before the game.

But news broke Monday that Fernandez was to undergo an MRI for an unknown injury to an undisclosed part of his body. Redmond confirmed that the injury is a sprain in the right-hander’s pitching elbow. The skipper echoes what all Marlins fans are probably thinking, but are too afraid to say:

Fernandez has anchored an extremely efficient Marlins rotation through the first month-plus of 2014. Through eight starts the 21 year-old is 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA over 51.2 innings pitched. The team has been a pleasant surprise with their 20-18 record, currently good for second place in the cluttered NL East.

Lefty reliever Dan Jennings will be called up to replace Fernandez on the 25-man roster.