The Minnesota Twins placed right fielder Michael Cuddyer on the 15-day disabled list last night after he dislocated his right index finger while sliding into third base against the Kansas City Royals.

Cuddyer collided awkwardly with Alex Gordon in the third inning of last night's 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals and had to go to the hospital to get stitches to close the gash. He was running from first to third on a base hit by Justin Morneau and slid head-first safely into the bag. Jason Kubel will likely get most of the at-bats in Cuddyer's place.

Twins right-hander Kevin Slowey will skip his next start because of a strained right biceps that forced him to leave Thursday's game in the fourth inning.

Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals placed closer Chad Cordero, who has not pitched this season due to right shoulder tendinitis, on the 15-day disabled list last night.

The move was made retroactive to March 27.

The Nationals also announced that first baseman Dmitri Young, hampered by a lower back injury since the end of spring training, flew back to Washington yesterday for treatment and further examination.

ELSEWHERE

Reds: Javier Valentin strained his hamstring in the sixth inning last night, leaving Cincinnati short-handed at catcher. Valentin jogged out of the batter's box after hitting a sixth-inning single off Philadelphia's Ryan Madson. He slowed to a walk and grabbed the back of his left leg when he reached first base, then left the game for treatment. Paul Bako, the only healthy catcher left on the roster, came in as a pinch-runner.

Yankees: Three games into his tenure as manager, Joe Girardi was too sick to manage against Tampa Bay last night because of an upper respiratory infection. Girardi was at the ballpark, and the Yankees said he had a high fever. He did not speak with reporters. Bench coach Rob Thomson managed the team against the Rays.