Brewers’ Ryan Braun sits out after flare-up of same injury

Ryan Braun was out of the Milwaukee Brewers starting lineup Friday after a flare-up of the oblique strain that sent him to the disabled list earlier this season.

The Milwaukee slugger was available off the bench against Miami, and Manager Ron Roenicke said he hoped Braun would be back in the lineup by Sunday. Braun left Thursday’s game at Atlanta in the fifth inning because of tightness in his right side.

He was four for 23 on the Brewers’ current trip. Roenicke said the injury was probably a factor.

“He’s taking weirder swings than I’ve seen him take,” Roenicke said. “If he’s taking bad swings, something is going on. … Hopefully Saturday or the next day he’s good.”

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Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu expects to be ready to return from his ankle injury as soon as he’s eligible to be activated from the 15-day disabled list on June 2. Tops in the majors with 15 homers, the rookie from Cuba sees no “reason why” he won’t be able to play by then. Abreu expects to be in a walking boot for three more days and hopes to begin practicing Monday.

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Stephen Drew took another step toward getting back in the lineup for the Boston Red Sox, starting at shortstop for Class-A Greenville (S.C.) on Friday night. The earliest Drew will debut for Boston is June 2, when the Red Sox open a three-game series in Cleveland.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates activated closer Jason Grilli off the disabled list and optioned catcher Tony Sanchez to triple-A Indianapolis.