CLEVELAND — Those clamoring for the Indians to remove Fausto Carmona from the rotation won’t get their wish — at least not now.
Cleveland manager Manny Acta said the club has no plans to replace the right-hander, who has struggled to a 4-9 record and 6.17 ERA in 16 starts, allowing at least four runs in eight straight outings.
Carmona took a 4-1 lead into the fifth inning Monday — an 8-7 loss to Colorado — only to allow six runs in the inning, all of them coming with two outs.
“I know that everybody loves to go by ‘What have you done for me lately,’ but you can’t always take that approach,” Acta said of Carmona, who bounced back from consecutive subpar seasons to go 13-14 with a 3.77 ERA in 33 starts last year. “It obviously has its limitations with him being out of options, but not too long ago he threw over 200 innings with an ERA below 4.00.
“The main thing is that we have to stay positive with this guy.”
Since the first month of the season, there has been little positive coming from Carmona, who appears lost on the mound and has conjured up memories of when he was demoted to rookie ball in 2008, following a Cy Young-contending season in 2007 (19-8, 3.06 ERA).
The poor effort from their No. 1 starter can’t continue, if the Indians hope to stay in the race for the Central Division title.
“I don’t think you can stay in this thing if he gives up six or seven runs when he goes out there, but we’re not anticipating that happening,” Acta said. “Our pitching guys feel like he’s actually on the way to snapping out of it.”
Carmona has gotten in trouble pitching out of the stretch and losing his composure when things have not gone his way. It’s something that has plagued him at different times throughout his career.
“All we can do is go by what he tells us and how he acts,” Acta said. “He’s acting pretty normal, still having fun. Obviously, he wants to be doing better. We have people that work with him that assure us he’s in a good spot mentally.
“He has expressed to me that he feels physically and mentally better than in 2007.”
Land of discontent?
Veteran Orlando Cabrera appears miffed over splitting time at second base with rookie Cord Phelps.
When asked what the Indians needed to do to stay in first place, Cabrera, who moved to second base after a lengthy career as a top-shelf shortstop, sounded disinterested.
“Believe it or not, I’m kind of the wrong guy to ask that, because there are a lot of moves that are being made that come from Manny and the GM (Chris Antonetti),” he said. “They have an idea of where we’re going to go, so you’d have to ask them.”
Cabrera appeared to be alluding to the platoon with Phelps and his recent move to third base for the first time in his career Monday.
When told he was a veteran leader on the club, Cabrera said, “I like to believe that, but …”
Rest break
Grady Sizemore was given a scheduled day off and will likely get another for the series opener in San Francisco on Friday.
“He’s played a lot of games in a row,” Acta said. “We took advantage of the DH thing, but he needs a day off. We need to keep his legs fresh.”
Sizemore has been scuffling at the plate since leaving the disabled list May 27, batting just .190 (16-for-84) with a home run and eight RBIs in 22 games. He has struck out 53 times in 40 games (162 at-bats) on the season.
“He’s working on not using his body so much,” Acta said. “Just to make sure he’s square with his front foot so he’s able to use his hands more.”
Pronk power
Travis Hafner’s performance through Monday — .341, six homers, 26 RBIs in 35 games — has been a pleasing sight to Acta.
“He looks like his old self,” said Acta of Hafner, who has returned to the clean-up spot in the order. “He’s been pretty intimidating.”
Minor details
The Indians traded Triple-A Columbus infielder Josh Rodriguez to the Pirates for cash considerations. Rodriguez, who hit .193 (11-for-57) in 18 games for the Clippers, was selected by Pittsburgh in the Rule V Draft but released and returned to the Indians after going 1-for-12 in seven games for the Pirates. … Columbus LHP Scott Barnes tossed seven scoreless innings in a 3-1 victory over Toledo on Monday. Barnes (6-1, 3.53 ERA), who was acquired from the Giants for Ryan Garko in 2009, is 6-0 with a 3.23 ERA in his last 10 starts and has not lost since April 19.
Roundin’ third
Entering Tuesday, the Indians bullpen had not allowed an earned run over the last eight games (27 innings). … Cleveland signed 11th-round draft pick Luis DeJesus, a right-hander from Angelina College (Texas), and non-drafted free agent Josh McKeon, a right-hander from Upper Iowa University. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Tomlin (8-4, 3.93) vs. Hammel (3-6, 3.65).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
