The Pirates placed pitcher Oliver Perez on the 15-day disabled list today with a broken left big toe.

Perez, who suffered the injury by kicking a laundry cart in the Busch Stadium clubhouse after his start Sunday in St. Louis, could be out for as long as six weeks, Pirates General Manager David Littlefield said.

Perez was replaced on the active roster by outfielder Nate McLouth, who was recalled from Indianapolis, the Pirates AAA affiliate.

Littlefield said the Pirates plan to add a 12th pitcher before Perez's next scheduled start, which is Saturday in Milwaukee.

McLouth, who is scheduled to join the Pirates in Washington tonight, hit .306 with 12 doubles, five home runs, 32 RBI and a team-leading 23 stolen bases in 74 games with Indianapolis this season.

Perez, who was expected to be the ace of the Pirates starting staff coming out of spring training, has struggled this season. He currently has a 6-5 record with a 6.16 ERA. In 83.1 innings he has struck out 81, walked 51 and given up a team-leading 20 home runs.

McLouth's spot on the Indianapolis roster will be filled by left-handed pitcher Mike Connolly, who was promoted from the Altoona Curve, the Pirates' Class AA affiliate, the Curve announced this afternoon.

Connolly, who posted a 5-6 record and 3.32 ERA in 15 starts for the Curve this season, is scheduled to start for Indianapolis in the series opener at Portland tonight.

The Curve also announced that right-handed pitcher Eddie Candelario has been added to the Altoona roster from Class A rookie-level Bradenton.

For more details, see tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette