Stephen Strasburg is heading back to the DL. (Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)
The Washington Nationals placed right-hander Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list Sunday due to a left oblique strain.
Strasburg was cruising against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday but was pulled because of tightness in his left side in the fourth inning of Washington’s 9-3 win. He allowed one hit over 3 2/3 scoreless innings before leaving the game.
After his first pitch to first baseman Brandon Belt with two outs in the fourth, Strasburg grimaced and briefly grabbed his left side.
Strasburg, 26, returns to the disabled list for the second time this season after overcoming a bout with neck tightness earlier this year. He missed nearly four weeks.
In his three starts since he returned from the DL, Strasburg was 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .161 average. Strasburg is 5-5 with a 5.16 ERA this season.
—The Nationals recalled right-hander Taylor Jordan from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Strasburg on the roster.
Jordan, 26, joins the Nationals for his third major league assignment of the season. He was last recalled from Triple-A on May 24 and appeared in two games (one start) before returning to Syracuse on June 4.
In 16 major league games over two-plus seasons, Jordan is 1-8 with a 4.81 ERA in 15 starts. This season with Syracuse, Jordan is 2-4 with a 2.97 ERA in 11 starts.
—For the first time in nine years, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz started at first base in an American League game.
Ortiz is the Red Sox’s regular designated hitter, and he usually dusts of his first baseman’s mitt only when the team is playing interleague games that don’t employ the DH.
Before Sunday’s game against the Houston Astros, Ortiz last manned first base against an AL opponent on Aug. 5, 2006, at Tampa Bay. He hadn’t played in the field at Fenway Park since July 16, 2005, against the New York Yankees.
—Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, who did not play Saturday, is now dealing with a groin strain.
Hamilton came out of Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels after the seventh inning. He was playing for the first time against his former team, which traded him to the Rangers after two disappointing years with Los Angeles.
Hamilton, who signed a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels in December 2012, went 1-for-3 with a double in Friday’s game.
The Rangers re-acquired Hamilton from the Angels on April 27 while he was on the disabled list recovering from Feb. 4 surgery on his right shoulder. Hamilton didn’t make his season debut until May 25, and he hurt the hamstring several days later.
Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Saturday was a planned day off but did not get specific with what was ailing Hamilton except to say that his “whole lower half” has been an issue since Hamilton went on the DL with a left hamstring strain after an injury May 31, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The slugger was not in the lineup for Sunday night’s game against the Angels. Hamilton is hitting .303 with two home runs and five RBIs in 10 games this season.
—The St. Louis Cardinals placed left-handed pitcher Jaime Garcia on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain.
The move is retroactive to July 4. The club also recalled left-handed pitcher Tim Cooney from Class A Peoria. Garcia was scratched from a start last Thursday due to the groin strain. He is 3-3 with a 1.69 ERA in seven starts this season.
Manager Mike Matheny announced that Cooney and lefty Tyler Lyons are slated to draw the starting assignments for the Cardinals in Tuesday’s split doubleheader at Chicago.
—Travis Ishikawa is back with the Pirates as Pittsburgh claimed the first baseman off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.
The 31-year-old was 0-for-5 in six games for the Giants this season. He also hit a combined .266 with four home runs and 20 RBIs in 37 games with Triple-A Sacramento and Class A San Jose.
Ishikawa was the Pirates’ Opening Day first baseman in 2014, then was designated for assignment in mid-April. He cleared waivers and signed with the Giants days later.
—Houston Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick was activated from the disabled list and started in center field, with outfielder Domingo Santana returned to Triple-A.
—The Baltimore Orioles officially activated second baseman Jonathan Schoop (sprained knee) from the 60-day disabled list before the game.
Infielder Ryan Flaherty was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
—The Miami Marlins optioned right-hander Jarred Cosart to Triple-A New Orleans after he allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings on Saturday against the Cubs.
The team also activated first baseman Michael Morse from the disabled list prior to Sunday’s series finale.
—The Detroit Tigers recalled left-hander Ian Krol from Triple-A Toledo after the game and optioned right-hander Drew VerHagen to the Mud Hens.
The Tigers had only one left-hander, Blaine Hardy, in the bullpen once Tom Gorzelanny was designated for assignment on Friday.
