After going deep into their bullpen on Wednesday, the Indians had to make a series of moves to bolster things on Thursday before a four-game series at Baltimore.
Zach McAllister has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a low back strain and T.J. House has been recalled from Columbus. The Tribe also called up Mark Lowe, sent Kyle Crockett down to Columbus and transferred outfielder Nyjer Morgan from the 15-day to 60-day disabled list.
In his first four starts, McAllister was the Indians' best starting pitcher. The right-hander was 3-0 in mid-April and had an ERA of 2.28. Since then, things have gone downhill.
In his past six starts, McAllister is 0-4 with a 9.51 ERA. Speaking of his ERA, it is the third-highest in the American League for pitchers that have made nine or more starts at 5.89.
The last three outings have been even worse. Starting with the fourth inning against Tampa Bay on May 10, McAllister has allowed 17 runs (16 earned) in 4 2/3 innings along with four home runs. After going just 1 1/3 innings and giving up eight runs against Oakland last Friday, McAllister went just two plus two batters on Wednesday against Detroit, allowing five hits and five runs (four earned) and two home runs.
Said McAllister of his struggles after Wednesday's game: "It's a matter of executing better. I'd be a lot more disappointed or frustrated if my stuff wasn't there. The thing for me is to keep working hard between starts. If you want to crumble up and not work at it, it's only going to get worse."
During his early run of success, McAllister was doing a nice job with a fastball-changeup combination and his slider was effective as well. According to Brooks Baseball, in the past six starts opponents are hitting .276 when he throws a fastball, .667 on a changeup and .546 on a slider compared to .254/.000/.250 early in the year.
With McAllister going on the DL, the Indians were able to bring up House, who was sent down on Tuesday after being here for three games. The left-hander made his Major League debut last Saturday against Oakland and pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
In seven starts with Columbus, House, 24, is 1-2 in seven starts. His 2.40 ERA is ninth in the International League. With the recent moves in the Indians rotation, House is likely to make his first Major League start on Friday. With Josh Tomlin having to pitch in relief on Wednesday, Justin Masterson was moved up a day and will take the hill tonight.
With House coming up, that means three-fifths of the Indians' current rotation began the eyar with Columbus. Josh Tomlin and Trevor Bauer replaced Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar. Carrasco has had mixed reviews in the bullpen while Salazar allowed five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in his Clippers' debut on Tuesday.
The Indians signed Lowe, 30, on April 3 after he spent most of spring training with Tampa Bay. The right-hander has spent the season with Columbus and is 1-1 with eight saves and a 3.86 ERA in 16 appearances. He is fourth in the International League in saves and has not allowed an earned run in his past seven appearances.
Crockett, who was the first member of the 2013 draft class to make the majors, made three appearances and gave up one run in 4 1/3 innings. Morgan sprained his right knee during a May 14 game at Toronto while trying to chase down a fly ball.
Luckily one move the Indians didn't have to make on Thursday was in regards to Asdrubal Cabrera, who was hit on the side of the knee by a pitch in the 13th inning of Wednesday's 11-10 win over the Tigers. Cabrera is in the lineup and will bat second tonight.
