SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners’ stellar starting rotation took a hit on Wednesday as lefty Erik Bedard was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left knee.

The Mariners selected catcher Jose Yepez from Triple-A Tacoma to take Bedard’s spot. The move is retroactive to June 28 and Bedard may just miss one start before he is eligible to come off the DL, depending on how Seattle uses its off days between now and the All-Star break. Seattle designed pitcher Chaz Roe for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Yepez.

Bedard threw on Monday night against Atlanta, giving up three runs and four hits in seven innings of a 3-1 loss. Bedard entered that start with the best ERA in baseball over the previous two months and is 4-6 with a 3.00 ERA this season after missing all last year following shoulder surgery.

The latest injury continues his string of health problems since being acquired by Seattle before the 2008 season, although all his problems before now have been arm related. Bedard went 20 months between major league starts, missing the entire 2010 season. He also missed parts of the 2008 and ’09 seasons with arm problems.

Since joining the Mariners, Bedard is 15-13 with a 3.15 ERA in 45 starts.

Yepez was hitting .296 in 28 games with the Rainiers.