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| Talbots |
The Indians’ starting rotation has been sensational so far this season — 9-1 with a 1.86 ERA in the last 13 games — and Talbot was right in the middle of it. In his two starts he was 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA.
But Talbot, who in his last start, a week ago today, threw a career-high 112 pitches, was placed on the DL Sunday with a strained right elbow.
In that start, Talbot threw eight scoreless innings in a 4-0 win over the Angels.
“He felt the normal soreness you get the day after he pitched, but a couple of days after that, it was still sore,” said Indians manager Manny Acta.
An MRI on the elbow showed inflammation that apparently is going to sideline Talbot for a significant amount of time.
Acta said Talbot will likely miss more than two weeks, which is the normal length of a stay on the DL.
“He’s going to be out for a while,” said Acta.
Acta said Jeanmar Gomez will be recalled from Columbus to assume Talbot’s spot in the rotation. Gomez’s first start for the Tribe will come Tuesday in Kansas City.
It’s an unfortunate injury for Talbot, who had a similar elbow injury as a minor leaguer in the Tampa Bay organization in 2009. In that instance Talbot missed over two months with what was called an elbow sprain.
“He feels this one is not as bad as the one he had with Tampa,” said Acta.
Nevertheless, it’s a blow to the Indians’ starting rotation, which has been hitting on all cylinders so far this season.
“We knew sooner or later something like this would happen,” said Acta. “No team goes through a whole season using only five or six starters. You have to prepare yourself for it.
“It is disappointing, though, because it’s so early in the year, our rotation has been going so well, and Mitch was coming off such a good start.”
At Columbus, Gomez was pitching as well as Talbot was in Cleveland. In two starts for the Clippers Gomez was 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA, although opposing batters were hitting .319 against him.
Gomez last year received a mid-season callup from the Indians, and was 4-5 with a 4.68 ERA in 11 starts.
Lineup watch
Although he hit second in the lineup last year prior to getting hurt, Sizemore will hit leadoff this season.
Acta said he told Sizemore in spring training that he would be the Tribe’s leadoff hitter once he returned.
“He’s hitting leadoff because now we have Carlos Santana in our lineup, and our lineup is deeper this year,” said Acta. “Last year, the reason we moved Grady down in the lineup is that we had lost Victor Martinez, and we needed Grady’s bat more towards the middle of the lineup.
“But this year our lineup is deeper, so Grady can hit leadoff. He’s been there before, he’s been VERY GOOD hitting there before. We’re happy to have him back.”
Notes
Sunday was the first time Sizemore and Santana have been in the Indians’ starting lineup at the same time. . . The Indians’ seven-game home winning streak is their longest winning streak at home since they won seven in a row in August and September of 2007. . . After allowing 10 runs in three innings on opening day, Fausto Carmona’s ERA over his last three starts is 1.25. . . In the three-game series with the Orioles, Travis Hafner was 6-for-9, with a double, 2 home runs, 4 runs scored, and 3 RBI. He’s hitting .354 overall. . . The Indians begin a seven-game trip to Kansas City and Minnesota tonight in Kansas City, the start of a four-game series, with all four games starting at 8:10 p.m. The pitching matchups: tonight Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 5.03) vs. Kyle Davies (1-1, 9.00). Tuesday Gomez will face lefty Bruce Chen (2-0, 2.37). Wednesday Justin Masterson (3-0, 1.33) vs. Luke Hochevar (2-1, 4.21). Thursday Josh Tomlin (3-0, 2.75) vs. Sean O’Sullivan (1-1, 5.00).
