CLEVELAND -- After failing to go at least four innings in his last three starts, Justin Masterson's struggles could not be overlooked any longer and something needed to be done.
The Indians placed the right-hander on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday due to inflammation in the right knee. This is Masterson's first career stint on the DL.
Through 19 starts this season Masterson is 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA, which is second-highest in the American League among pitchers who have made 18 or more starts. Last year after 19 starts Masterson was 10-7 with a 3.78 ERA as he made the American League All-Star team for the second time.
"His first inclination was wanting to pitch through it but I think the way it was going after talking to everyone we would DL him and get him treatment," Terry Francona said. "Then when he feels good almost treat it like spring training and let him off go off the mound with (pitching coach) Mickey (Callaway) every other day. Once he is able to handle it physically get the repetition in. That's the best way to get him back on track."
Two weeks ago, when one of his starts was pushed back a couple days, Masterson said that the knee had been bothering him since the second start of the season. He went just three-plus innings on July 1 in Los Angeles and on Monday matched his shortest start of the season by going two innings and allowing five runs. Of the 54 pitches Masterson threw against the Yankees, only 24 were strikes.
During his past five starts, Masterson has gone 0-2 with a 9.50 ERA. In those 19 innings, he has allowed 19 runs and 27 hits with 17 walks, three hit batters and 19 strikeouts.
When asked in hindsight why they let Masterson go one more start instead of placing him on the DL after the Dodgers game, Francona said: "We tried to use common sense and tried to talk through everything. This is a guy who was an All-Star pitcher. He's had a rough go of it. If we ran from everyone who had a rough go of it we wouldn't have a team. You have to try to manage through some of it."
With the All-Star Break next week, the Indians do have some flexibility in setting up their rotation. Masterson could miss just one start but it likely will be longer. Masterson's next start was supposed to be Saturday against the White Sox but someone, likely Zach McAllister, will be called up. To take Masterson's place on the roster in the short term, Nick Hagadone was called up from Columbus to provide some depth out of the bullpen.
Going into Tuesday's game against the Yankees, the Indians rotation has the worst record (23-35) and third-highest ERA (4.55) in the American League.
Of the pitchers who began the year in the rotation, the only one who has gone unscathed has been Cory Kluber. Zach McAllister had a three-game stint in May where he gave up 17 runs (16 earned) in 4 2/3 innings before being placed on the DL. Danny Salazar was sent to Columbus and Carlos Carrasco was moved to the bullpen.
Carrasco has pitched well out of the bullpen while Salazar has shown improvement his past couple starts. There is the possibility that Salazar could be called up for a start on July 19 when the Indians have a day-night doubleheader in Detroit.
Josh Tomlin and Trevor Bauer have shown flashes at times but have combined to go 6-10 while T.J. House is 1-2.
OTHER MOVE: Roberto Perez is making his debut in the Majors after being called up to back up Yan Gomes. To make room for Perez, Tyler Holt was optioned to Columbus.
Perez has spent the entire season with Columbus, where he hit .305 with eight home runs and 43 RBI. Francona was hoping that they could get by with having Carlos Santana as the emergency catcher but Santana jammed his shoulder while making a play at first on Monday. Santana will be the designated hitter on Tuesday with Nick Swisher playing first.
QUOTABLE: "I voted my (butt) off." -- Francona when asked about the photo of him voting for Kluber as part of MLB.com's Final Vote. Voting for the final spot on the All-Star team continues until 4 p.m. on Thursday.
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