CLEVELAND – Odds are good that Mitch Talbot (mid-back strain) will return to the rotation Saturday. The rookie right-hander worked a three-inning rehab outing at Class A Mahoning Valley without incident Monday, allowing a run on two hits and a walk over three innings.
“Everything went well,” said Indians manager Manny Acta, who indicated that Talbot would start Saturday against the Mariners if he checked out well with the club’s medical staff following Tuesday night’s game. It is the same day Talbot is eligible to leave the disabled list.
Talbot is 8-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 25 starts of his first season as a fulltime member of a big league rotation.
In other injury news:
(bullet) According to Acta, designated hitter Travis Hafner (right shoulder inflammation) is “a couple days” away from swinging a bat. Acta said Hafner would need two positive rounds of batting practice before the Indians decide whether to activate him from the injured list or send him on a rehab assignment. Hafner has been sidelined since July 29.
(bullet) Left-hander Aaron Laffey (left shoulder fatigue) pitched his first bullpen session Tuesday, and according to Acta, will throw another one in “a couple days.” Acta said the Indians are still deciding whether to bring Laffey — 2-3, 4.62 ERA in 25 games (five starts) — back as a starter or reliever, but it sounds as though they are leaning towards the bullpen.
(bullet) Right-hander Anthony Reyes (right elbow surgery) will resume his rehab assignment with Double-A Akron today.
Finish line
Though the Indians are past the toughest part of their second-half schedule, Acta isn’t expecting a let down from his club, which entered Tuesday 13-11 since the all-star break – all of the games coming against teams above .500 at the time.
“I’m not anticipating that, because we have so many young guys trying to prove themselves,” he said. “There’s only a few spots that are secure (for next year). Whoever doesn’t go hard, somebody else will go in there.”
Cleveland has 49 games left in the regular season, 28 against teams with sub-.500 records.
Six-pack
Acta said he would not consider going with a six-man rotation, but that a sixth pitcher could make spots starts for Talbot and Justin Masterson, who are nearing innings limits.
Right elbow problems limited Talbot, who has already logged 121 innings this season, to just 68 1/3 innings last year with the Rays – none on the big league level. Masterson has worked 128 1/3 innings this year after pitching 129 1/3 innings out of Boston’s bullpen and Cleveland’s rotation in 2009.
“I think we need to finish the month and see where they’re at,” Acta said.
Acta said the Indians could avoid shutting down Talbot and Masterson for the season if someone fills in for them on occasion over the remainder of the year.
Minor detail
The Indians acquired Luke Carlin from the Pirates for a player to be named, assigning the catcher to Triple-A Columbus. Carlin, 29, has spent the entire season at Triple-A Indianapolis, batting .239 with two homers and 23 RBIs in 63 games. He has played in 46 major league games with San Diego (2008) and Arizona (2009).
Draft days
The Indians signed their first top-five draft pick, agreeing to terms with fifth-round selection Cole Cook, a RHP out of Pepperdine University, who was a unanimous All-West Coast Conference pick for the second straight year as a sophomore. Cleveland also signed 22nd-round selection Nate Striz, a RHP out of the University of North Carolina.
The Indians have signed 18 of their 50 draft choices, including 10 of their top 18, but have yet to agree with first-round pick (fifth overall) Drew Pomeranz, a LHP out of the University of Mississippi.
The deadline to sign draft picks is midnight on Monday.
Roundin’ third
At 21-20, the Indians entered Tuesday as one of just two teams in the Central Division sporting winning records within the division. The Twins (29-16) are the other club, not the White Sox (20-21), who were tied with Minnesota atop the division standings through Monday. … Jeff Datz, who served as a coach on the Indians’ major league staff for eight seasons from 2002-09, is in his first year as the Orioles’ bench coach, the position he held under former manager Eric Wedge over his last three seasons in Cleveland. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Tomlin (1-1, 2.79) vs. Bergesen (3-9, 6.26).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
