Pirates’ Casey to Miss Six to Eight Weeks

First baseman Sean Casey will be out of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lineup for six to eight weeks because of two fractures in his lower back.

Casey, the Pirates’ highest-paid player, was injured during Friday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs while he was stretching for a throw. As John Mabry was running out an infield single in the third inning, he stumbled crossing the bag and clipped Casey.

Casey took several strides toward the pitcher’s mound with the ball before dropping to his knees in pain. He was assisted off the field and needed help getting to the clubhouse before being taken to a hospital for tests.

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David Wells went on the disabled list for the second time. The Boston Red Sox said Wells has a sprained right knee, the same knee on which he had off-season surgery.

He received a shot of a joint lubricant after Friday night’s win over Seattle. It usually is administered in a series of three injections a week apart. Wells was put on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday and can’t be activated before April 28.

He said he was hurt when he ran to cover first base Wednesday night in his only start this season.

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The Detroit Tigers put Dmitri Young on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right quadriceps.

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Chicago Cub rookie outfielder Angel Pagan strained a hamstring running out a ground ball Saturday night against the Pirates and will return to Chicago today to be examined by team doctors. He is expected to be put on the 15-day disabled list.