NEW YORK, July 16 - The National League Central Division-leading Milwaukee Brewers put ace starter Ben Sheets on the disabled list with a sprained finger on Monday.

Sheets, who turns 28 on Wednesday, has a 10-4 record with a 3.39 earned run average this season for the Brewers (51-40), who lead the Chicago Cubs by 3-1/2 games.

Milwaukee, who also placed reliever Chris Spurling on the bereavement list to tend to a family matter, called up a pair of pitchers to fill in.

Joining the club for the start of a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks were highly touted left-hander Manny Parra and right-hander Grant Balfour.

Expected to slide into the rotation to fill in for Sheets was Yovani Gallardo, a 21-year-old right-hander who is 1-1 with a 2.83 ERA in limited action this season.