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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

MLB notes: Miguel Cabrera on DL for first time in career

Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera suffered a calf strain and is expected to be out six weeks. (Associated Press)
Associated Press

Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera will be sidelined with a left calf injury for at least six weeks after the Tigers placed the A.L. batting leader on the disabled list for the first time in his career.

The two-time A.L. MVP pulled up while breaking for second on an attempted hit-and-run in the fourth inning of Friday’s 8-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. An MRI showed a strain of his calf muscle but no injury to his Achilles tendon.

Cabrera is hitting .350 with 15 homers and 54 RBIs.

“It is a grade-3 calf strain, and it’s probably going to be six weeks,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said before Saturday’s game against Toronto. “When you lose the best hitter on the planet, it’s a huge blow.”

Grade 3 is the most severe of the strains.

In the last two seasons, Cabrera played through a sports hernia, a broken bone in his foot and bone spurs in his ankles.

“It’s going to be tough without him, for sure,” catcher Alex Avila said. “There’s no secret about that. We just need to keep it as close as possible to be able to make a run when he gets back.”

Detroit selected the contract of third baseman Jofry Marte from Triple-A Toledo. Marte, who has played 10 minor league games at first, was hitting .271 for the Mud Hens and has not played in the major leagues.

A nine-time All-Star, Cabrera will miss this year’s game at Cincinnati on July 14. He led A.L. first baseman in the latest fan balloting update with nearly 11.6 million votes. Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer was second at 9.15 million.

Strasburg exits early with injury

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg left Saturday’s game against the San Francisco Giants in the fourth inning after experiencing tightness in his left side.

Strasburg allowed one hit over 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his third start since coming off the disabled list. He missed nearly four weeks due to neck tightness.

Staked to an early 3-0 lead, Strasburg winced and grabbed in the area of his left side after making an attempt at a groundball.

Clearing the bases

The Rangers activated LHP Matt Harrison from the disabled list and sent rookie RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez back to the minors. The Rangers say Harrison will start Wednesday against Arizona, his first start since spinal fusion surgery in June 2014. Texas also recalled RHP Anthony Ranaudo from Triple-A Round Rock, the club where Gonzalez was sent. … Twins RHP Ervin Santana has been reinstated following an 80-game drug suspension and is scheduled to start Sunday against the Royals. … Injured closer Andrew Miller threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session and the lefty could soon return to the Yankees. Miller has not pitched in a game since June 9 because of a strained left forearm. … The Red Sox have bolstered their bullpen by recalling RHP Steven Wright from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room, they optioned RHP Noe Ramirez to Pawtucket.