Kluber to return to mound June 1

Not a moment too soon for the Indians’ beleaguered starting rotation, Corey Kluber is ready to return after missing two starts with a lower back strain.

Kluber last pitched on May 2, when he was removed after three innings of what ended as a 5-2 road loss to Detroit. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list the next day.

Speaking with reporters on May 27 before the Indians faced the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field, manager Terry Francona said all signs point to Kluber getting the start on June 1 in the finale of a fourgame home series against the Oakland A’s.

“I think we have a pretty good plan in place,” Francona said of the timetable for Kluber’s return.

The 31-year-old right hander is off to what for him is a substandard start. He 3-2 with a 5.06 ERA in six starts.

Kluber first reported the discomfort in his lower back on April 9 after working six innings in a 3-2 loss at Arizona.

“We knew his back was hurting from Arizona on and who knows before that,” Francona said. “It got to the point where something had to be done. He just wasn’t himself.”

After working five scoreless innings in a rehab appearance at Double-A Akron on May 26, Kluber conferred with Francona and pitching coach Mickey Callaway. The Indians’ starters came into the game on May 27 ranked 15th and last in the American League with an 18-19 record and 5.02 ERA.

Showing promise

Mike Clevinger, the rightheaded starter recalled from Triple-A Columbus on May 7 to fill Kluber’s spot in the rotation, has minorleague options remaining and is a likely candidate to be sent down when Kluber is added to the 25-man roster on June 1.

Clevinger is 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA in five appearances, four starts. In 22 1/3 innings, the 26-year-old right-hander has notched 25 strikeouts and issued 12 walks. Francona said he and Callaway want Clevinger to get away from the pattern of working ahead early in the count and then losing command of the strike zone.

More promise

Since joining the Indians from Triple-A Columbus on May 15, center fielder Bradley Zimmer is batting .292 with one home run and three RBI.

“Obviously, we want him (Zimmer) to be a guy who plays 156 games and gets the day off when he’s tired,” Francona said. “You pick and choose a little bit. He will not be a straight platoon guy here. I would like him not to just face righthanders. I don’t think that will be good for him.

“He might have some growing pains there, but his defense is so good.”