Braves place pitcher Cunniff on DL

PITTSBURGH—The Braves on Friday placed right-hander Brandon Cunniff on the 15-day disabled list because of a nagging groin injury and promoted right-hander Sugar Ray Marimon from Triple-A Gwinnett.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Cunniff had been pitching with pain for about two weeks. The Braves decided to shut him down after he aggravated the injury while pitching one inning at Washington on Thursday. Gonzalez said the team expects that Cunniff will be activated as soon as he’s eligible.

Marimon posted an 8.64 ERA in 8 1/3 innings pitched in two previous stints with the Braves this season. Gonzalez said the Braves promoted Marimon because they needed a reliever who can pitch extended innings with heavy rain in the forecast this weekend in Pittsburgh. Also, right-hander David Aardsma is unavailable until Sunday at the earliest after he pitched three innings at Washington on Thursday.