Slocum or Harris Likely to Get Nod Tonight on the Mound
With Jake Westbrook back in Cleveland nursing a sore elbow, the Indians pitching rotation is going to take another hit, and who starts tonight in anyones guess. Word is Westbrook began feeling the pain following his last start on May 28th. Westbrook had just returned to the Indians after spending four weeks on the disabled list because of a strained left intercostal muscle. The right-hander joins Fausto Carmona on the DL as the team now has 2-of-5 starters hurt.
The best guess to get a quick call-up and start is Brian Slocum from the Bisons. He has not pitched since Thursday, making today his normal start date. He is 3-4 on the year in 11 starts with Buffalo, with an ERA of 5.66. In his last start, a 10-2 loss to Toledo, he went 5 innings, allowing 8 runs on 7 hits, walking four and striking out 8. Other Bisons starters that likely would have gotten the call if they had not pitched in recent days include Matt Ginter (pitched last night), Jeremy Sowers (pitched Sunday).
Not that it means much, but as of 6:45 this morning, Yahoo Sports had Jeff Harris listed as the the starter for the Indians tonight. Harris is with the Bisons as well this season, and is 2-3 with a 5.11 ERA in 5 starts.
Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.
