Clemens Sidelined--Probably Until June : Baseball: Pitcher will miss first Red Sox opener since 1987; Parrish sent down to triple-A Syracuse.

Roger Clemens has a muscle strain in his right shoulder that will probably keep him out until June, the Boston Red Sox said after the three-time Cy Young Award winner underwent a battery of tests Saturday.

Team physician Arthur Pappas said the tests--an MRI, X-rays and an arthrogram--showed no evidence of career-threatening damage to the joint, ligaments or rotator cuff.

“I guess that’s the good news,” Manager Kevin Kennedy said.

“There is one muscle, deep in the back part of the shoulder, that demonstrated evidence of a muscle strain,” Pappas said. “This is consistent with . . . Roger’s complaint of the restriction in his pitching motion.”

With Clemens out, Aaron Sele will start in Wednesday’s opener--Boston’s first opening-day pitcher besides Clemens since Bob Stanley substituted for him during his 1987 contract holdout.

Clemens left training camp Friday night to see Pappas at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. Pappas said Clemens will probably not pitch from a mound for 10 to 14 days, and it will be another 10 to 14 days before he can pitch in a game.

He will be put on the disabled list.

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The Kansas City Royals assigned the contract of veteran catcher Lance Parrish to Syracuse, the triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Parrish, an eight-time All-Star, was signed to a minor league contract by the Royals in February. He played 16 years in the majors with Detroit, Philadelphia, the Angels, Seattle and Pittsburgh.

The Royals also optioned Jeff Granger, considered their top pitching prospect, to extended spring training and sent outfielder Dwayne Hosey to their triple-A team at Omaha.

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The Montreal Expos signed free-agent infielder Tom Foley, a former Expo who played last season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was assigned to the triple-A Ottawa Lynx.

The Expos also assigned left-handed pitcher Gabe White to Ottawa.