WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals placed right-handed pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Brandon Kintzler on the 10-day disabled list Sunday.

Second baseman Daniel Murphy (right knee surgery) could be close to returning to the lineup. He rejoined the team, taking batting practice and fielding grounders.

Manager Dave Martinez said Murphy will accompany the team to New York, where it opens a two-game series Tuesday against the Yankees.

“I wanted to see where he’s at and get him here, and he looked pretty good,” Manager Dave Martinez said. “He played two days in a row (at Double-A Harrisburg) so we didn’t want him to do much, but we wanted to get him back here. So we’ll see how he feels tomorrow and we’ll touch base, and see where we go from there.”

The Nationals had announced Saturday that Strasburg (right shoulder inflammation) was headed for the disabled list following an MRI. He left Friday night’s start against the Giants after two innings.

Strasburg is 5-5 with a 3.46 ERA in 13 starts. He ranks fourth in the National League with 95 strikeouts.

Kintzler is 1-2 with two saves, 13 holds and a 4.45 ERA in 31 appearances.

BLUE JAYS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a top prospect who has been playing with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, will miss at least four weeks because of a strained patellar tendon in his left knee.

The son of Hall of Fame outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, Guerrero Jr. left Wednesday’s game after going 2 for 2 with two singles, raising his average to .407. He was placed on the seven-day disabled list the following day and traveled Friday to Toronto’s spring-training facility in Florida for tests.

A third baseman, Guerrero Jr. has 11 home runs and 55 RBI in 53 games this season. He also has 18 doubles and 20 walks.

Guerrero signed with Toronto in July 2015 and made his minor league debut the following year. At two levels of Class A last season, he hit .323 with 13 home runs and 76 RBI in 119 games.

BREWERS-RAYS: Milwaukee acquired infielder Brad Miller and cash from Tampa Bay for first baseman/outfielder Ji-Man Choi.

The NL Central-leading Brewers assigned Miller to Triple-A Colorado Springs. He was cut Thursday by Tampa Bay.

Miller, 28, was hitting .256 with five home runs and 21 RBI in 48 games for the Rays. Mostly a shortstop, he has started at every position in the majors except catcher and pitcher.

Miller hit 30 home runs for the Rays in 2016 but dipped to just nine last year.

TWINS: Minnesota sent first baseman Joe Mauer to Triple-A Rochester for a rehab assignment as he works his way back from a cervical neck strain and concussion-like symptoms.

Manager Paul Molitor said Mauer is expected to be the designated hitter Tuesday before seeing action at first base. If all goes well in the two games, Mauer could rejoin the Twins at some point in a six-game trip that starts Tuesday at Detroit.

Out since leaving during a game May 18, Mauer is hitting .283 with a .404 on-base percentage in 38 games with the Twins this season. He got his 2,000th career hit April 13.

The injury occurred May 11 when Mauer, 35, dove for a foul ball. He played a few more games while receiving treatment.

Related Stories