Cubs’ Wood to Sit Out at Least 3 Weeks

Chicago Cub pitcher Kerry Wood will be sidelined at least three weeks after tests Monday showed he has a muscle strain in his right shoulder.

Wood underwent an MRI exam that revealed the problem, the team said. He will not be able to throw for three weeks and then will be reevaluated by team doctors to devise a strengthening program.

“I feel bad for him. He’s always been a guy who will go out there whenever possible and take his turn,” General Manager Jim Hendry said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s going to put him out for a while. But at least it’s a muscular problem that can heal and not a surgical problem. That’s good news. It’s not a tear. He will just have to take his time like with any muscle. And hopefully he can get back for the final two-thirds of the season.”

Bothered by bursitis in his shoulder during spring training, Wood has had his last two outings cut short. He left Saturday’s game against the Astros after three innings. He is 1-1 in five starts with a 6.15 earned-run average. “It feels good when I’m not throwing, and it doesn’t feel good when I’m throwing,” Wood said.

Last season when Wood was on the disabled list, Glendon Rusch replaced him in the rotation.

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The Oakland Athletics put rookie outfielder Nick Swisher on the 15-day disabled list because of an injured right shoulder, but a CT scan showed he didn’t sustain any head trauma from crashing into the outfield wall Sunday while chasing a triple by Seattle’s Jeremy Reed.

“The shoulder was minimal,” Swisher said of the injury. “They said, ‘We have to do tests on your brain.’ I said, ‘Just make sure one is in there.’ ”

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Tampa Bay Devil Ray first baseman Travis Lee was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a groin injury. ... The Boston Red Sox called up pitcher Jeremi Gonzalez from triple A and designated first baseman David McCarty for assignment.