Major League Baseball

Indians recall RHP Carrasco to help tired bullpen

Published Aug. 9, 2013 10:45 p.m. ET

foxsports

Carlos Carrasco is joining Cleveland's tired bullpen for an undetermined stay.

With the Indians relievers worn out following a four-game sweep by Detroit, the club recalled Carrasco from Triple-A Columbus on Friday. Manager Terry Francona said Carrasco was brought up in case the Indians needed a long reliever in the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels or if the game goes extra innings.

Beyond that, it's not known what the Indians have in mind for Carrasco.

''We've got a guy down there (in the bullpen) who is completely stretched out, and it's kind of interesting to see how he would do anyway,'' Francona said. ''On a few fronts it's kind of exciting.''

Carrasco is beginning his fourth stint with the Indians, who fell a season-high seven games behind the first-place Tigers in the AL Central. Francona was forced to overwork his bullpen in the series, which included a 14-inning game on Wednesday. In the finale, he brought in utilityman Ryan Raburn to make his big-league pitching debut in a 10-3 loss.

Raburn worked a 1-2-3 inning, and Francona said seeing him on the mound may have provided a moment of levity for his team.

''We got beat around a little bit and it wasn't very much fun, so the guys had something to latch onto and that's OK,'' Francona said.

As for Carrasco, it's not known how long he will be with the Indians.

Whatever the length of his visit, the club has no immediate plans to transform him from a starter to a reliever. Carrasco is 0-4 with a 9.10 ERA in six starts for the Indians this season. With the Clippers, he went 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 14 starts.

Francona smiled when asked if Raburn would be available again.

''Not in the bullpen,'' he said.

Francona knew he might have to use one of his position players when the score got out of hand - the Tigers led 6-0 in the third - and after using a few relievers. He didn't want to waste them and not be able to call on them Friday, if needed.

''Last night, there's no way to get around it, it's miserable,'' he said. ''You wait all day until 7:05 and then by 8:05 you're swimming upstream and you're trying to figure out how to save your bullpen. I didn't want Raburn to pitch two innings, I thought that was too much. I was afraid of him getting hurt and I gave him a pretty stern warning not to do anything silly.''

To make roster room, the Indians optioned right-hander Preston Guilmet to Columbus. He pitched 2 2-3 innings on Thursday after starter Zach McAllister was chased.