Sabathia Forced to Sit Out

Cleveland Indian ace C.C. Sabathia didn’t make his scheduled start Thursday against Kansas City because of a sore left shoulder.

However, the club got good news when an MRI showed that Sabathia had only irritated a biceps muscle during pregame warmups and wasn’t seriously injured.

Sabathia was pulled from what would have been his 100th career start about 15 minutes before he was scheduled to make his first pitch. Jeff D’Amico filled in for the left-hander, who was immediately taken for tests.

Trainer Lonnie Soloff said the MRI revealed that Sabathia had irritated the biceps muscle while throwing. Sabathia will be re-examined today in Detroit.

Soloff said the team was optimistic Sabathia will be pitching again soon.

“We’re very encouraged by it,” Soloff said.

The Indians are off next Monday and Thursday, which will give Sabathia more time to heal.

Pitching coach Carl Willis said Sabathia threw about 20 warmup pitches in the center-field bullpen when he felt some soreness while tossing a changeup.

“Hopefully it was a freaky, fluky thing,” Willis said.

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The New York Mets put third baseman Ty Wigginton on the 15-day disabled list and recalled infielder Danny Garcia from triple-A Norfolk.

Wigginton fainted at home and felt dizzy at the ballpark. He was in NYU Medical Center after complaining during Wednesday night’s game against Montreal.

“He looked pale and weak when he came to the ballpark and then he had dizzy spells during the game,” Manager Art Howe said.

Wigginton, who is batting .188 with two home runs and nine RBIs, is expected to miss New York’s trip to Chicago, Los Angeles and San Diego.

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Minnesota Twin left fielder Shannon Stewart was taken out of Thursday afternoon’s game against the Detroit Tigers after the sixth inning with a cramp in his right leg.

Stewart went one for three before being replaced by Michael Ryan.

The Twins have three position players on the disabled list: center fielder Torii Hunter; catcher Joe Mauer; and designated hitter Matthew LeCroy.