The number of variables present in a fracture make it impossible to predict whether or not Francisco Liriano will miss time, and if so, how much he misses.

Liriano broke his right humerus, a source said. In today's Post-Gazette: A look at how he might have done it and what it means for the rotation.

(Frustrating moment of the day: I was on the phone with the Santo Domingo, D.R. police department, excited to take my basic Spanish for a spin, only to hear the woman on the other end respond to what I thought was a perfectly phrased question with "No entiendo.")

The humerus is generally broken during falls, especially forward when landing on the elbow or palm. It can also be broken in car accidents, or when you're thrown off of something, like a horse or an ATV.

The recovery, like that of all broken bones, depends on whether the bone had a hairline fracture, or was displaced, or required surgery, or required screws or pins, or produced bone chips or nerve damage or a number of other complications. All we know about Liriano's break is that he is in a cast.

Broken bones generally take four to six weeks to heal, and larger bones -- like the humerus -- can take longer to heal than, say, a wrist or finger. It stands to reason that even if Liriano is out of a cast and cleared for activity by Feb. 11, when pitchers and catchers report, he will be behind schedule. We don't know yet how much activity Liriano can undertake as he recovers but certainly a cast on his upper arm will hinder it.

That means Liriano could start the season on the disabled list, meaning a reduced salary in 2013 per Fox Sports' report and a spot for Kyle McPherson or Jeff Locke in the rotation to start the season.

First Published: March 24, 2016, 5:18 p.m.