The Indians had a scheduled off day Monday, their second in five days. The break allowed Cleveland to use a four-man rotation during that period, and it was telling which pitcher was skipped.
The choice was Ubaldo Jimenez, who at the start of the season was considered to be the No. 1-A starter behind Opening Day starter Justin Masterson. Team officials believed that Masterson and Jimenez were both potential aces.
That hasn't been the case with either pitcher, but especially Jimenez, whose performance in the first two months of the season was exasperating.
In 10 starts, Jimenez is 5-4 with a 5.79 ERA. He is averaging nearly seven walks per nine innings and he leads the American League in walks (42) and wild pitches (seven). In his past four starts, Jimenez has a 8.85 ERA, lasting just four and 4 1/3 innings in two of those outings.
So when the Indians had a chance to go with four starting pitchers over the weekend, it was a very easy decision on the odd man out. Jimenez will start Tuesday night in Detroit, his first appearance since May 27.
Manager Manny Acta said the extra time off between starts allowed Jimenez to work with pitching coach Scott Radinsky on some mechanical adjustments with his delivery. Indians officials have to hope the tweaking of Jimenez's mechanics works, because Masterson hasn't been stellar, either.
NOTES, QUOTES
Texas A&M outfielder is Indians' first draft pick
--OF Tyler Naquin, from Texas A&M University, was selected by the Indians with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the draft. As a sophomore in 2011, Naquin hit .381 and was the Player of the Year in the Big 12 Conference. This year, he hit .380 with three home runs and 49 RBI. "We feel he has a chance to be an above-average hitter. He exudes confidence in the batter's box," Indians scouting director Brad Grant said. Naquin, 21, played right field in college, but Grant said the Indians project him as a center fielder.
--C Carlos Santana went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer while making a rehab appearance Monday as the designated hitter for low Class A Lake County (Eastlake, Ohio). Santana has been on the disabled list since May 26 with a mild concussion, and manager Manny Acta said he expects Santana to be activated for the Indians' series that begins Tuesday night in Detroit.
--RHP Ubaldo Jimenez will start Tuesday night in Detroit. It will be Jimenez's first start since May 27 in Chicago, when Jimenez had his shortest outing of the season, four innings, giving seven runs in a 12-6 loss to the White Sox. The Indians, with off days last Thursday and Monday, skipped Jimenez's last turn in the rotation.
--RHP Vinnie Pestano has inherited 11 baserunners in his 24 appearances. None of those 11 inherited runners has scored, which ranks No. 1 in the American League.
--C Lou Marson, who threw out 38 percent of attempted base-stealers last year, hasn't been nearly as effective this year. Marson has thrown out just three of 18 attempted base-stealers (17 percent).
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Years it's been since the Indians had the 15th pick in the draft, which they had Monday. The Indians also had the 15th pick in 2009, when they selected RHP Alex White, who has since been traded to Colorado.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're going to have to pick it up a notch." -- Manager Manny Acta, on the Indians, who have lost seven of their past nine games and will play 18 of their next 24 games on the road.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--C Carlos Santana (concussion) went on the seven-day disabled list May 26. He did some hitting in the cage on June 1 and has passed all the mandated post-concussion tests. He made a rehab appearance June 4 for Class A Lake County, and he could be activated June 5.
--DH Travis Hafner (sore right knee) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 24. He had surgery May 31 to repair a frayed meniscus, and he will be out until late June or early July.
--3B Jack Hannahan (left calf strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 27. He had been out May 14-23 due to lower back stiffness.
--LHP Rafael Perez (strained left lat muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 26.
--OF Grady Sizemore (back surgery in March 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list April 4. He was cleared to begin baseball activities in late April and took live batting practice May 16, but manager Manny Acta said he was unlikely to be ready June 3, the first day he'll be eligible to be activated. There is no timetable for Sizemore's return.
--RHP Carlos Carrasco (Tommy John surgery in September 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list March 26. He might miss the entire season.
