After days of lying to fans and beat writers, the Phillies announced Saturday night that Brad Lidge will make a second trip to the disabled list.

Lidge has had inflammation of his throwing elbow since earning his last outing on Sunday. An MRI taken this week showed no structural damage, but the hope was that the inflammation would subside after a fews days rest.

Never happened.

“This isn’t something we didn’t anticipate,” Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said.

Lidge is eligible to come off the DL May 25, but that appears unlikely.

Jose Contreras will be the closer during Lidge’s absence.

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You might not see Lidge until August, at the earliest, if deemed 100 percent healthy. That’s not to say Lidge will start feeling better and he’ll be back in early June.

I’ve been saying all along that Lidge’s troubles are more serious than the team is letting on. I believe his elbow is shot to you-know-what … and I’m sticking to that.