Astros’ Miller Is Sidelined

Houston right-hander Wade Miller was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday after team doctors diagnosed a pinched nerve in his neck.

Miller, 0-2 in three starts, gave up six runs and seven hits over five innings in a 7-3 loss Friday. He was 16-8 with a 3.40 earned-run average last year but hasn’t won since Sept. 7. Since then, he is 0-3 with four no-decisions.

Right-hander Brandon Puffer was recalled from triple-A New Orleans, where he was 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in five games. Tim Redding will be recalled from New Orleans on Saturday to start against San Francisco.

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Jermaine Dye will begin a rehabilitation assignment today with the Oakland Athletics’ triple-A affiliate in Sacramento.

The outfielder is expected to play three games for the River Cats. The A’s then will decide whether to recall Dye for a weekend series against the Angels at the Coliseum.

Dye hasn’t played since breaking his left leg with a foul ball in Game 4 of last season’s AL division series against the Yankees.

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Tampa Bay left-hander Wilson Alvarez was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained ribcage, and the Devil Rays recalled right-hander Delvin James from triple-A Durham.

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The Minnesota Twins signed reliever Mike Trombley, released by the Dodgers last week, to a minor league contract.