The Phillies‘ announced Monday that they have placed rookie pitcher Antonio Bastardo on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left posterior shoulder.

The move generated serious speculation over who the Phillies would call up to pitch Bastardo’s spot in the rotation (Thursday). Many thought Carlos Carrasco might get his chance to make his major league debut. Or perhaps Andrew Carpenter or Rodrigo Lopez would get the call.

Instead, the Phillies announced that J.A. Happ would move up a day and start Thursday, and called up Sergio Escalona, for the fifth time this season. Escalona has only made five appearances so far this year, and has quite literally spent more time traveling to and from the big league club then he has on the mound for the Phillies. Hopefully someone has given this kid a nice set of luggage and he is allowed to keep his frequent flyer miles.

While this answers the question of who will pitch Thursday, it simply shifts the question a day. With Happ pitching Thursday, Friday’s spot is now open. Among the pitchers not in the running is Kyle Drabek.

In a conversation with MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Phillies’ GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said that he does not expect Drabek to be a candidate for time with the big league in 2009 at all.

“He’s got great stuff,” Amaro said to Zolecki. “He’s going to be a quality Major League pitcher, if he stays healthy. But we do not believe he is ready to pitch in the big leagues at this time. He needs more Minor League experience. I would not count on him for the 2009 season. He’s not somebody we would actively move to the big leagues because he needs time to pitch in the Minor Leagues and he’s coming off [Tommy John] surgery. Now, there are circumstances that may change that, but right now we’re fully committed to having him pitch in the Minor Leagues in 2009.”

Carpenter is having the best season of anyone in the running with a record of 7-1 and an ERA of 2.75. Expect an announcement Wednesday on Friday’s starter.