Miller put on DL, Tomlin out six weeks

The Indians need Andrew Miller now with the Kansas City Royals nipping at their heels, but they will need him more in October if all goes well, so they’ve decided to shut down their ace reliever — temporarily, they hope.

The Indians on Aug. 2 put Miller on the 10-day disabled list with right knee patella tendinitis. After the move he admitted to reporters in Boston his knee has been nagging him for a while.

“For me, it was more about, ‘Do we fight with it for a few weeks and try to keep pitching through it, or do we try to knock it out?’ ” Miller said. “There’s never a good time. I feel terrible about not being able to contribute and play through this, but I do think it’s the right thing to do.”

A few minutes after announcing they were placing relief pitcher Andrew Miller on the disabled list with right knee tendinitis, the Indians announced

Miller, a hero of the Indians’ World Series run last year, usually pitches the eighth inning to set the table for closer Cody Allen. He has appeared in 46 games this season. He has 78 strikeouts with a 1.67 ERA over 54 innings. He is 4-3 with two saves.

Miller has issued 18 walks, but he has allowed 10 walks in the last 21 innings after allowing just nine walks in 74 1/3 innings (70 games) with the Yankees and Indians last year.

Right-handed relief pitcher Adam Plutko was recalled from Columbus to fill Miller’s roster spot.

The Indians also announced starting pitcher Josh Tomlin will miss six weeks with a strained left hamstring.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Indians pitcher Andrew Miller was put on the disabled list because of tendinitis in his right knee.