Pirates place Francisco Liriano on disabled list

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed left-handed starter Francisco Liriano on the disabled list because of a strained left oblique Wednesday, a day after he left a start in the fourth inning when he felt discomfort while throwing a pitch.

Liriano, who was the Pirates’ best starter last season and helped lead them to their first playoff berth in 21 years, is 1-6 with a 3.96 earned-run average in 14 starts this season.

Liriano bent over and held his back after throwing a pitch to the Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo during a loss Tuesday. Liriano, who led the Pirates with 16 wins in 26 starts last season, left the mound after a few warmup pitches.

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The St. Louis Cardinals are optimistic that the discomfort in ace Adam Wainwright’s right elbow is not a serious problem. Wainwright returned to St. Louis on Wednesday for tests. Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny said that everything the team had heard so far about Wainwright’s elbow “has been positive.” Wainwright had elbow ligament replacement surgery in February 2011. ... Texas Rangers reliever Tanner Scheppers is going back on the disabled list because of right elbow inflammation less than a week after a return from the same problem. ... The Boston Red Sox signed 36-year-old outfielder Andres Torres to a minor league contract. Torres played in 103 games with San Francisco in 2013 before having season-ending surgery on his left Achilles’ tendon.