Expos’ Guerrero Expected to Go on Disabled List

Montreal Expo All-Star outfielder Vladimir Guerrero has a herniated disk in his back and will probably have to go on the disabled list.

Guerrero underwent an MRI exam before sitting out Thursday night’s game against the Angels. He will seek a second opinion next week to confirm the diagnosis.

“If the second opinion comes back the way the first one did, we’ll probably DL him,” General Manager Omar Minaya said. “We’ll then see what the treatment will be and what the best method will be to get him back.”

Guerrero, who has been bothered by a bad back for four weeks, aggravated it even further when he grounded into a double play to end Montreal’s loss to Florida on May 26.

“The next day in the morning I couldn’t even get up to go to the bathroom,” he said through an interpreter.

He sat out the next six games. He returned to the lineup Tuesday night but did not look comfortable the last two games.

“I felt better,” he said. “That was the reason why I tried to play.”

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New York Yankee first baseman Nick Johnson, out because of a stress fracture in his right hand, was scheduled to undergo a bone scan.

“It’s to see how it’s healing,” Johnson said. “Hopefully it’s improving and I can start moving it around.”

Johnson is still wearing a cast. The Yankees originally believed Johnson would be sidelined four to six weeks but haven’t ruled out a longer period.

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Cleveland Indian right-hander Jason Bere will have surgery on his ailing shoulder and is expected to sit out the rest of the season.

Bere was examined by team doctor Mark Schickendantz last week and tests found more fraying in his rotator cuff.

Bere sat out the first six weeks of the season because of shoulder problems and came out after one inning in his last start, May 27, against Detroit.

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The Colorado Rockies sent left-hander Vic Darensbourg outright to triple-A Colorado Springs, clearing the way for right-hander Nelson Cruz to come off the disabled list.... Detroit Tiger first baseman Carlos Pena was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring strain. To take his roster spot, Detroit bought the contract of infielder Warren Morris from triple-A Toledo.