Kluber shut down for 2 weeks
Indians ace Corey Kluber has been shut down for two weeks with an internal oblique strain, an injury he sustained during his comeback from a broken arm.
Kluber was pulled from a minor league start for Triple-A Columbus at Charlotte on Sunday after one inning because of abdominal tightness. He returned to Cleveland and the team said imaging tests confirmed the strain.
The Indians said Tuesday the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner will not throw for two weeks before he’s re-examined and a plan is formulated.
Kluber hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 1. He was struck by a line drive against the Marlins in Miami and fractured his ulna.
The right-hander hopes to be part of the Indians’ playoff push. The twotime AL Central champs began Tuesday two games back of the Twins in the division but first in the AL wild-card race.
Kluber was being stretched out and likely was close to being able to return to the Indians rotation had his rehab outing Sunday gone well.
He went 20-7 during the regular season in 2018, but he struggled in the playoffs for the second straight year.
With Kluber sidelined, Carlos Carrasco on the injured list after being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia and Trevor Bauer dealt to the Reds, the Indians rotation has been manned by All-Star Shane Bieber, Mike Clevinger, Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale and Adam Plutko.
Carrasco is scheduled to appear in a rehab outing for Double-A Akron on Thursday.