CLEVELAND — If Fausto Carmona is able to turn things around and finish the season strong, Indians pitching coach Tim Belcher thinks newly acquired rotation mate Ubaldo Jimenez will deserve some of the credit.

“I think the addition of Ubaldo is really going to help him,” Belcher said of Carmona, who in his first season as a fulltime ace, had struggled to a 5-11 record and 5.19 ERA prior to his start Thursday night. “Fausto’s kind of been the guy here for the last couple years since CC left. Now, all of a sudden someone’s here with top-of-the-line stuff and he’s a countryman (Dominican Republic) with similar stuff and builds.

“He will instinctively, whether he will admit it or not, pick up his game.”

Carmona certainly ramped it up in his first start after Cleveland traded for Jimenez, allowing just two earned runs over 61⁄3 innings of a 7-5 victory at Texas on Saturday.

A budding rivalry appeared to be brewing when Carmona was asked about the addition of Jimenez on the day the Indians acquired him.

“I don’t want to talk about that,” was Carmona’s odd response.

Jimenez (7-9, 4.57 ERA) has not been without his struggles this year. His velocity had been down in Colorado prior to the trade and the right-hander hasn’t been the same pitcher he was during a breakthrough season with the Rockies last year — 19-8, 2.88 ERA.

His first start with the Indians was a rough one, but he followed it up with a sparkling one in his home debut Wednesday night.

Jimenez has the unique ability to change speeds on his fastball, which makes him stand out, according to Belcher.

“His speed variations are very good,” Belcher said. “He may not have the movement on the ball like Justin (Masterson) and Fausto, but the speed variation is what is really impressive about him.”

Wounded Wahoos

• Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo (broken left thumb) resumed his rehab assignment at Class A Lake County on Thursday night. He was expected to begin playing in higher-level games in the minors but both Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron are on the road. If all goes well, Choo could be activated from the disabled list early next week.
• Outfielder Michael Brantley (right wrist) missed his second straight game, but the Indians are optimistic that the outfielder will return tonight.
• Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was a gametime decision, but was in the lineup after being hit on the foot by a pitch and leaving the game prematurely Wednesday.

No problem

Belcher isn’t concerned with the Indians starting Masterson tonight after the right-hander pitched two innings Tuesday in an abbreviated outing thanks to a lengthy rain delay.

“He’ll be fine,” Belcher said. “He threw 37 pitches, low stress, two innings. He’s such a horse. He could probably throw every third day and get by with it.”

Masterson leads the team with 1591⁄3 innings in his first full season as a starting pitcher.

Next up

The Indians host Central Division rival Minnesota in a three-game series that begins tonight at 7:05.

Masterson (9-7, 2.71 ERA) opens the set against RHP Carl Pavano (6-9, 4.71), while Josh Tomlin (11-5, 4.08) pitches Saturday (7:05), with the Twins countering with LHP Brian Duensing (8-10, 4.56).

David Huff (1-1, 0.51) is expected to pitch the series finale Sunday (1:05) against RHP Kevin Slowey (0-0, 4.91).

Minor details

• Right fielder Chad Huffman went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles Wednesday in Columbus’ 8-1 loss to Indianapolis. Huffman, a candidate to make Cleveland’s roster as an extra outfielder in spring training, entered Thursday batting .244 with 13 homers and 53 RBIs in 103 games for the Clippers.
• Converted Akron starter Paolo Espino improved to 6-0 with a 2.44 ERA in 22 games (five starts) Wednesday, tossing five scoreless innings and allowing four hits and striking out seven in a 3-0 victory over Portland.

Roundin’ third

• A scoring change from Wednesday gave first baseman Carlos Santana an error, which means all three runs Jimenez allowed in a 10-3 victory over Detroit, were unearned.
• The Indians announced the return of Snow Days to Progressive Field this winter (Nov. 25-Jan. 16), with the addition of a regulation-sized ice rink. The rink will be the site of the first-ever hockey game at the park between Ohio State and Michigan on Jan. 15.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.