Twins pitcher Baker out with groin strain

MINNEAPOLIS, May 7 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Twins Wednesday placed pitcher Scott Baker on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right groin.

The move is retroactive to May 4.

Groin discomfort caused the right-hander to leave his last two starts early, including last Saturday night against Detroit after only three innings.

An MRI performed Monday showed the strain was the only thing wrong and the Twins said on their Web site that the plan is to take a couple of days to let the injury heal and then to re-evaluate it when the team returns to Minnesota from its road trip to Chicago.

"They put a lot of emphasis on bullpen (sessions) here, and if I'm not able to, they aren't going to let me (start)," Baker said Tuesday. "As much as I'd like to, that's just the way it is."

His scheduled start against the White Sox Wednesday went to Kevin Slowey, who had been on the DL since April 4 with a right biceps strain.