Injuries to pitchers will hurt Cleveland
The Cleveland Indians’ pitching staff has taken two big hits: All-Star Andrew Miller is on the disabled list, and starter Josh Tomlin is out six weeks.
Miller was placed on the DL on Wednesday with right knee tendinitis, an injury that could explain his recent wildness.
One of baseball’s best relievers, Miller pitched in Tuesday night’s 12-10 loss at Boston, giving up Eduardo Nuñez’s three-run double off the Green Monster.
Miller is 4-3 with two saves and a 1.67 ERA in 46 appearances this season. He was acquired at the trading deadline last year from the Yankees, and the left-hander was instrumental in Cleveland making it to the World Series for the first time since 1997.
He has not been himself lately, walking 10 batters in the past 21 innings. Miller walked only nine batters in 741⁄3 innings last season.
Cleveland recalled righthander Adam Plutko from Triple-A Columbus to take Miller’s spot on the active roster.
As for Tomlin, his season could be in jeopardy after an MRI exam confirmed a “mild-to-moderate” left hamstring tendon strain. The Indians said Tomlin is expected to miss at least six weeks before he can return to major-league games.
Tomlin was pulled before the fifth inning of Sunday’s game against the White Sox. He is 7-9 with a 5.38 ERA in 20 starts.
Greg Holland suffered a cut on the right index finger of his throwing hand Tuesday in a “kitchen accident,” Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black said. Black said the closer is considered day to day. In his first year in Colorado, Holland leads the majors with 33 saves.
The Philadelphia Phillies have canceled plans to honor Pete Rose next week because of a woman’s claim she had a sexual relationship with Rose when she was a minor.
The woman, identified as Jane Doe this week in a court filing, said Rose called her in 1973, when she was 14 or 15, and they began a sexual relationship in Cincinnati that lasted several years. She also alleges Rose met her in locations outside Ohio for sex.
Rose’s lawyer says the woman’s claims are unverified.
The Phillies were going to induct Rose into their Wall of Fame in an on-field ceremony Aug. 12. Rose bobbleheads were going to be distributed Aug. 11. The Phillies will not give away the collectibles and said fans with tickets for either game can exchange them or get a refund.
Rose, who agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball in 1989, made four All-Star appearances and helped the Phillies to one of their two World Series championships during his five seasons in Philadelphia from 1979 through ’83.