The Arizona Diamondbacks placed closer Brandon Lyon on the 15-day disabled list after Wednesday night's game against the Houston Astros. The move is retroactive to May 13. Lyon, who is suffering from mild tendinitis in his right elbow, has not appeared in the last five games after posting an 0-2 record with 13 saves and a 1.96 ERA in 18 games this season. "He's getting better," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "But we're at a point now where we're a week away from when (he last pitched), and to run him out there potentially tomorrow or the next day without having pitched in that long and bring him in the ninth inning potentially when he's not 100 percent sure...This gives us the time to make sure he's 100 percent, give him an outing or two so he clears his mind once he goes back out there and has his first closing job when he comes back." Lyon missed all of last season after having nerve transposition surgery during spring training. However, the discomfort he's feeling now is different than what he experienced last year. "Obviously I'd like to be out there," Lyon said. "But it's so early on in the season it's nothing I want to go out there and inflame any more than it is right now. Hopefully these days off will get that out of there, whatever the inflammation is in my elbow and it won't come back the rest of the season." With Lyons sidelined Brian Brunney will get the bulk of the save opportunities. To take Lyon's spot on the active roster, the Diamondbacks recalled infielder Matt Kata from Triple-A Tucson.