Boston places Breslow on 15-day DL

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox placed left-hander Craig Breslow on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left shoulder after Thursday's 4-1 win over the Twins. The move is retroactive to March 21, thus Breslow is eligible to come off the DL on April 6.

Breslow has made just three appearances -- all in Minor League games -- this spring, including one on Thursday.

"Today, on the Minor League side, he had a clear step up without overexerting," manager John Farrell said. "We expect this stay to be minimal."

Boston has taken a slower approach with the 33-year-old Breslow this spring, learning from last year, when he was kept out of action until May 6 because of shoulder tendinitis.

"He put up a little bit of a fight. He felt like he could be ready for the start of the season," Farrell said. "We just felt like, similar to last year, we want to build his foundation."

A vital part of last season's championship run, Breslow threw 59 2/3 innings with a 1.81 ERA in 61 games in 2013.