Cincinnati Reds slugger Joey Votto put on 15-day disabled list

The Cincinnati Reds put first baseman Joey Votto on the 15-day disabled list because of a left leg injury.

The Reds made the move before Wednesday’s game against the Washington Nationals. Votto had sat out five games because of a quadriceps strain in his left leg.

The move is retroactive to May 16.

The Reds had played a man short, expecting Votto would return quickly. Manager Bryan Price said Tuesday he was optimistic Votto would be back for a homestand that starts Friday.

Votto is hitting .257 with six home runs and 12 runs batted in. The Reds also reinstated outfielder Jay Bruce from the 15-day DL. He had arthroscopic surgery May 5 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Etc.

Chris Sale, an American League All-Star pitcher the last two seasons, will come off the disabled list Thursday and start for the Chicago White Sox against the New York Yankees.

Sale went on the disabled list April 22 because of a flexor strain in his left arm. He gave up one run and one hit in seven innings against Boston on April 17 in his previous start, throwing a career-high 127 pitches, and reported he was sore the next day.

Sale made a 68-pitch rehabilitation start, striking out 11 in four scoreless innings Friday with triple-A Charlotte (N.C.). He threw a bullpen session Tuesday at Kansas City before a game against the Royals with no problems. Sale, who has won 28 games the last two years, is 3-0 with a 2.30 earned-run average in four starts this season.

The St. Louis Cardinals added bench experience, recalling outfielder Shane Robinson from triple-A Memphis (Tenn.).

Rookie outfielder Joey Butler was optioned to Memphis.