Indians Confidential

The Indians sent the presser out a few minutes ago about the injury to Fausto Carmona, as well as a roster move to help the bullpen. Here it is:

CLEVELAND, OH— The Cleveland Indians today announced a pair of roster moves. The club has placed RHP FAUSTO CARMONA on the 15-day disabled list with a left hip strain. Also today, the Indians purchased the contract of RHP SCOTT ELARTON from AAA Buffalo, recalled RHP EDWARD MUJICA from AAA Buffalo and optioned RHP JENSEN LEWIS to AAA Buffalo.

Carmona left last night’s start in the 3rd inning vs. Texas (2.0IP, 5H, 6R/ER, 2BB, K), a 13-9 loss to the Rangers in Progressive Field. So far this year he is 4-2 with a 3.10 ERA (58.0IP, 54H, 22R/20ER, 38BB, 23K) in 10 starts for the Indians. His 3.10 ERA is currently 9th best in the American League. This marks the first career stint on the Major League disabled list for Carmona.

Elarton, 33, was signed to a minor league free agent contract with an invitation to spring training by the Indians on February 8. He has made 15 appearances out of the bullpen for the AAA Buffalo Bisons going 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA (25.2IP, 21H, 9R/7ER, 7BB, 18K). Elarton limited AAA hitters to a .223 (21-94) average and has yielded just 1 earned run in his last 8 appearances (13.1IP, 9H, 3R/1ER, 4BB, 9K) at Buffalo.

He owns a career Major League record of 56-60 with a 5.31 ERA in 224 games/170 starts since beginning his career 10 years ago with the Houston Astros in 1998. Elarton pitched with the Indians in 2004 (3-5, 4.53 ERA, 21GS) and 2005 (11-9, 4.61ERA, 31GS) and spent the 2006-2007 seasons with the Kansas City Royals. He underwent shoulder surgery in August 2006 that curtailed the start of his 2007 campaign before making 19 starts between AA Wichita, AAA Omaha and Kansas City in between a pair of stints on the disabled list (shoulder rehab, right foot sprain). He finished the 2007 season in the AAA Buffalo Bison bullpen (1-0, 2.50ERA, 9G, 18.0IP, 17H, 5ER, 5BB, 14K) after being released from Kansas City at the end of July. Elarton has not pitched in the Major Leagues since July 24,, 2007 vs. the New York Yankees (GS, 1.2IP, 6H, 7R/ER) and has not appeared in relief since September 6, 2003 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers (1.0IP, 1H, 2R/0ER) while with the Colorado Rockies. He will wear #39.

Mujica, 24, has spent the entire 2008 season at AAA Buffalo after being optioned out of spring training on March 15. At Buffalo he was 0-2 with 4 saves and a 4.15 ERA (26.0IP, 29H, 14R/12ER, 10BB, 27K) in 18 appearances out of the bullpen. In his last 13 appearances (17.1IP, 17H, 4R/2ER, 7BB, 18K) with Buffalo he allowed just 2 earned runs. Last year, Mujica split the 2007 season between AAA Buffalo and Cleveland. He was with the Indians five (5) different times (May 7-22, June 20-24, June 27-July 8, July 27-August 25 and Spet. 4- end of season) going 0-0 with a 8.31 ERA (13.0IP, 19H, 12R/ER, 2BB, 7K) in 10 appearances. He wears #49.

Lewis appeared in 20 games in relief for Cleveland going 0-2 with a 3.58 ERA (27.2IP, 29H, 11R/ER, 15BB, 19K). Last night against the Rangers he pitched 2.1 innings, allowing 1 run/earned on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1.

The Indians currently have 3 players on the Major League DL (Fausto Carmona, Shin-Soo Choo & Jake Westbrook).