Cardinals Put Pujols on Disabled List

This is a much larger challenge for the St. Louis Cardinals: Albert Pujols will be out indefinitely because of a strained muscle on his right side.

Pujols, last year’s NL MVP and this season’s major league leader in home runs and runs batted in, was put on the 15-day disabled list Sunday.

“Life would be easier with Albert,” closer Jason Isringhausen said. “But we’ve played without our star players before. We’ll have to weather the storm.”

An MRI exam scheduled for today will give the team a better idea how long Pujols, batting .308 with 25 homers and 65 RBIs, will be sidelined. Trainer Barry Weinberg said the injury was “moderate to severe.”

Rookie Chris Duncan was recalled from triple-A Memphis to replace Pujols on the roster.

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The Oakland Athletics optioned catcher Jeremy Brown and right-hander Matt Roney to triple-A Sacramento to clear room for two more regulars returning from the disabled list.

They were sent down because reliever Jay Witasick and outfielder Milton Bradley nearly are ready to return from injury absences. Both played for Sacramento on Sunday, with Bradley going 0 for 4 and Witasick pitching one hitless inning.

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Chicago Cubs reliever Scott Williamson was put on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his right elbow, an injury sustained Saturday. The team recalled right-hander Carlos Marmol from double-A West Tenn.... The Chicago White Sox put veteran reliever Jeff Nelson on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right elbow and recalled right-hander Agustin Montero from triple-A Charlotte.