Giants' Cueto back to DL along with Sandoval; Panik activated

San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto was placed on the 10-day disabled list because of a right elbow sprain, the team announced Monday before its game against the San Diego Padres.

In addition to moving Cueto to the DL in a transaction retroactive to Sunday, the Giants also put corner infielder Pablo Sandoval on the 10-day disabled list due to a strained right hamstring. In corresponding moves, San Francisco activated second baseman Joe Panik from the disabled list and recalled infielder Kelby Tomlinson from Triple-A Sacramento.

Cueto, 32, departed his Saturday start against the Milwaukee Brewers after four innings due to pain in his elbow and met with doctors on Sunday. The 11-year-veteran struggled with his velocity against Milwaukee and gave up four runs and eight hits before leaving. He told reporters afterward that he felt pain in the elbow after every pitch.

"I keep telling you guys and I keep telling myself that I'm fine, but in reality I'm not," Cueto told reporters through a translator. "It's very difficult every time I go out there. Every time I throw a pitch it bothers me."

Cueto, who is 3-2 with a 3.23 in nine starts this season, returned in early July after missing more than two months because of elbow pain. Earlier this year, the Giants feared Cueto might have a torn ulnar collateral ligament and had him examined by Dr. James Andrews. The prognosis was that no surgery was needed, and Cueto instead was told to rest his elbow.

However, the results haven't been good since his return. Cueto was 3-0 with an 0.84 ERA in five starts before going to the DL, but he is 0-2 with a 6.86 ERA in four starts this month. Cueto also has served up seven homers in the four starts after giving up just one in the five early-season outings.

Sandoval, who turns 32 next month, hurt his hamstring Sunday against the Brewers while legging out a two-run triple in the fifth inning, his first three-bagger since 2015. He remained on the bases and scored on a sacrifice fly, only to be pulled from the game.

This season, the two-time All-Star is hitting .248 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 92 games.

Panik, 23, has not played in the majors since July 6 because of a groin injury. In his fifth season with San Francisco, Panik is hitting .240 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 54 games this year. He played in four rehab games for Triple-A Sacramento last week, going 4-for-12.

The 28-year-old Tomlinson, in his fourth season with the Giants, is hitting .225 with no home runs and 10 RBIs in 120 at-bats over 51 games this season. Tomlinson had been sent down to the minors last week before being recalled Monday. He has a .265 average with no homers and five RBIs in 27 games for Sacramento.

--Field Level Media