CLEVELAND — Justin Masterson may be returning to the rotation after all.
Mitch Talbot, who left his last start with right shoulder inflammation, was scheduled to be examined by doctors Tuesday night. If Talbot checks out OK, he will make his scheduled start Saturday. If he doesn’t, Masterson is the strongest candidate to take his place.
With Masterson nearing his limit on innings pitched, the right-hander was moved to the bullpen and worked seven innings in relief Sunday after Talbot left with the injury in the first inning.
If Masterson does wind up filling in for Talbot, manager Manny Acta said it would be his final appearance of the season.
Masterson (6-12, 4.73 ERA) has experienced an up-and-down first full season as a starting pitcher, going 6-12 with a 4.88 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 28 starts covering 166 innings. His best work came at the end of the year — 3-2, 2.95 ERA over his last seven starts — and solidified his spot in the rotation entering spring training in 2011.
“The plan was to start him and give him a legitimate chance to show he could handle it,” Acta said. “There was some inconsistency early but then he pitched some good games.
“We’re trying to build a starting rotation (for 2011). He has shown the ability to miss bats. That takes the defense out of the equation. He’s got the stuff. When he’s on, left, right, it doesn’t matter.”
Donald down
Second baseman Jason Donald is expected to miss at least a week with a bruised tendon in his right index finger.
Donald sustained the injury Saturday when a pitch he bunted caught his hand on the bat.
Acta said Luis Valbuena would get the majority of playing time at second in Donald’s absence.
As insurance, Cleveland called up infielder Drew Sutton, 27, from Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday. Sutton, claimed off waivers from the Reds in early August, has spent the majority of the season at the Triple-A level, batting a combined .273 with five home runs and 42 RBIs in 113 regularseason games with Louisville and Columbus (29 games).
To take Sutton’s spot on the Clippers’ roster, infielder Jason Kipnis was promoted from Double-A Akron. Kipnis, a second-round draft pick last year, has spent the majority of the season with the Aeros, hitting .311 with 10 homers and 43 RBIs in 79 games.
Schedule stuff
The Indians announced their 2011 schedule, with the season opening April 1 at Progressive Field against Central Division rival Chicago, followed by a three-game series against Boston (April 5-7).
The Yankees make their only trip of the season to Cleveland on July 4-6.
Interleague opponents making trips to Cleveland include Cincinnati (May 20-22), Pittsburgh (June 17-19) and Colorado (June 20-22).
Minor details
- Columbus opened its Governors’ Cup Championship Series on Tuesday, beating Durham 18-5 in the first game of a five-game series. David Huff started for the Clippers, who are in the finals for the first time since 1997.
- Class A Lake County clinched the Midwest Conference East Division on Tuesday with a 6-1 win over Great Lakes. The Captains open the best-of-five championship series tonight vs. West Division champion Clinton in Clinton, Iowa. Jason Knapp will start for Lake County, which is making its first finals appearance since 2003.
Roundin’ third
- The Indians entered Tuesday with a second-half team ERA of 3.81, as opposed to a 4.64 ERA during the first half. Cleveland’s starting pitchers had posted a 2.48 ERA over the last 17 games through Monday.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
