Pablo Sandoval is put on the disabled list by the Red Sox

Benched third baseman Pablo Sandoval was put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday by the Boston Red Sox because of a strained left shoulder.

Sandoval, 29, lost his starting job late in spring training to Travis Shaw and is hitless in six at-bats with four strikeouts.

Sandoval is in the second year of a $95-million, five-year deal signed during free agency in November 2014.

Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg is scratched

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves because of illness.

Manager Dusty Baker said Strasburg might pitch Thursday in the series finale.

In his first start of the season, Strasburg (1-0) beat the Braves in Atlanta, giving up one run over six innings.

Glen Perkins is put on DL by the Twins

Closer Glen Perkins was put on the 15-day DL by the Minnesota Twins because of a shoulder injury. The move is retroactive to Monday.

The Twins said that the left-hander’s injury was a strain on the back side of the shoulder.

Nick Swisher signs minor league contract with the Yankees

Nick Swisher has signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees and is expected to join triple-A Scranton on Thursday.

The 35-year-old infielder-outfielder, who played for the Yankees from 2009 to 2012, was released by Atlanta late in spring training. He has had knee problems the last two years.

Michael Morse is designated for assignment by the Pirates

Michael Morse was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates dropped Morse, who was hitless in eight at-bats, to open a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander AJ Schugel, whose contract was selected from triple A Indianapolis.

Morse, 34, has a .276 lifetime batting average and 104 home runs in 12 seasons.