Twins right-hander Tim Stauffer was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained right intercostal muscle and fellow righty Ryan Pressly was recalled from Triple-A Rochester.
Stauffer, 32, was signed this offseason as a free agent after spending his entire career in the San Diego Padres organization. Signed for $2.2 million on a one-year deal, Stauffer has struggled to an 8.38 earned-run average in 9 2/3 innings while pitching almost exclusively in long relief.
Twins manager Paul Molitor said Stauffer's side has been bothering him for the past week or so. The Twins' training staff was aware of the injury, which likely hampered the veteran pitcher in terms of velocity on his fastball and extension on his breaking pitches.