RHP Danny Salazar struck out nine batters, the most since he struck out 10 on April 18, 2015, at Minnesota. Big strikeout games to start the season are nothing new for him, though. Salazar has had at least seven strikeouts in four of his five season-opening starts. He also has struck out 23 batters in 15 2/3 innings in his career at Globe Life Park.

The American League champion Cleveland Indians reported to spring training with a roster that on paper was stronger than the one they used to get to the 10th inning of Game 7 of the World Series, before losing to the Chicago Cubs last year. Because of that, there wasn't much competition for jobs in camp. It was mostly a case of monitoring the progress of the returning injured players, ramping up the healthy players for the start of the season and evaluating the progress of selected prospects that will start the season in the minor leagues, but could be summoned to the major league club during the season.The biggest question at the start of camp was the health of All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley, who missed virtually all of the 2016 season with a shoulder condition that required two separate surgeries. The news on Brantley was good. He began playing in spring training games in late March, and there was growing optimism that he could begin the season on the major league roster -- or at... [More]

RHP Danny Salazar (strained right forearm flexor) missed most of the last month of the season. Salazar made it back for the World Series, but in a relief role, pitching three scoreless innings in two appearances.

RHP Danny Salazar, who made the AL All-Star team this year but spent most of the second half of the season plagued by arm ailments, made his second appearance of the World Series in Game 6. He threw two scoreless innings of relief on one hit, striking out four without issuing a walk.

RHP Danny Salazar came into Game 2 of the World Series in the sixth inning and pitched one scoreless and hitless inning. He walked two. It was Salazar's first appearance in a game since a start on Sept. 9. He missed the rest of the regular season with a strained flexor tendon in his right arm. Manager Terry Francona said Salazar will be an option out of the bullpen for the remainder of the World Series.

RHP Danny Salazar was added to the Indians' World Series roster. Salazar did not pitch after Sept. 9 due to a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm. In 25 starts, he was 11-6 with a 3.87 ERA. However, his season had two distinct phases. In his first 15 starts, he was 10-5 with a 2.22 ERA. In his last 10 starts, he was 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA. Manager Terry Francona says Salazar could be an option to start a game in the World Series or to come out of the bullpen.

RHP Danny Salazar was added to the World Series roster for the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, hours before Game 1 against the Chicago Cubs.Salazar has not pitched since Sept. 9 because of tightness in his right forearm. The 26-year-old All-Star has been cleared to log as many as 65-70 pitches, according to pitching coach Mickey Callaway. Salazar compiled an 11-6 record with a 3.87 ERA and 161 strikeouts but struggled with arm issues the second half of the season.

RHP Danny Salazar (elbow) said he will be added to the World Series roster, although manager Terry Francona said nothing is official yet.Salazar and Game 5 ACLS starter Ryan Merritt are candidates to start the fourth game of the Series, Francona said. Salazar, 11-6 with a 3.87 ERA in 25 starts this season, has not pitched since being sidelined with right elbow inflammation that first surfaced in early August and caused him to be shut down in early September. "I don't know if I'm a starter or reliever, but I'm ready," Salazar said. Salazar threw a three-inning simulated game at Progressive Field on Sunday. He was 10-3 with a 2.75 ERA in 17 starts before the All-Star game, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

RHP Danny Salazar, who has not pitched since Sept. 9 because of tightness in his right forearm, could join the rotation depending on what happens in the next 48 hours.According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Salazar will throw a simulated three-inning game on Saturday or Sunday. This session will come on the heels of Salazar letting loose in Toronto, where manager Terry Francona said he was pleased with the 26-year-old's progress.

The Cleveland Indians might be in line to receive a huge boost to their starting rotation for the World Series.All-Star Danny Salazar, who has not pitched since Sept. 9 because of tightness in his right forearm, could join the rotation depending on what happens in the next 48 hours.According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Salazar will throw a simulated three-inning game on Saturday or Sunday. This session will come on the heels of Salazar letting loose in Toronto, where manager Terry Francona said he was pleased with the 26-year-old's progress."He let it go, which is good," Francona said. "He really let it go and threw his changeup with some arm speed. So we'll see how the next one goes."Salazar was scheduled to miss three to four weeks with a flexor strain and the right-hander has not been on the Indians' postseason roster. But signs are pointing to him being added to face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Chicago Cubs, and even possibly start, which Francona did not rule out."If Danny pitches and he pitches healthy, and he's throwing the ball over the plate, we have a really good pitcher for however amount of innings he's built up for, which can potentially help us," Francona told MLB.com.Salazar was named to the American League All-Star team this season. He compiled an 11-6 record with a 3.87 ERA and 161 strikeouts but struggled with arm issues the second half of the season.

RHP Danny Salazar, who has not pitched since Sept. 9 because of a forearm strain, could throw a simulated game Monday. The Indians have not ruled out Salazar being on the postseason roster and used as a reliever for the ALDS.

RHP Danny Salazar, who has been out with a forearm strain, threw a bullpen session Friday. Manager Terry Francona said the next step could be a simulated game Monday.

RHP Danny Salazar could throw a test inning or two Sunday, under a "best case" scenario outlined by manager Terry Francona on Thursday. Salazar has a sore arm muscle and threw a 33-pitch light bullpen Wednesday. He's scheduled to throw another Friday or Saturday and there's an outside chance he could be cleared to pitch Sunday. "The priority is to get him feeling good," Francona said. "We wouldn't rush that to try to get him available. We really want him to be in a good place. And then if it works, good, but we're not going to shortcut anything. (Pitching Sunday) would be a perfect world. Those are conversations we've all had. That's why I guess I keep falling back on what I said originally. That's the best way to go about it. You start trying to push something that's not there, that wouldn't be good. If he's ready to pitch on Sunday you can bet that he has passed all his tests, I mean with everybody."

RHP Danny Salazar threw 33 pitches in a light bullpen session Wednesday and Cleveland manager Terry Francona said he would throw another light side session Friday or a more strenuous one Saturday.

RHP Danny Salazar (forearm) threw 20 pitches at 75 percent of maximum Monday, but manager Terry Francona cautioned not to expect too much from his injured starter. "That's all he was supposed to (do)," Francona said. "Then we're trying to figure out the next three to four days, like he'll certainly have a couple bullpens. Is every other day a little bit ambitious? Is every third day? Mickey (Callaway, the pitching coach) and Danny will sit down and figure out the best way to go through the rest of the week. (Salazar's) health is the first priority. He's not rushing into anything. This is not a speed-up program. This is a back-to-throw program, this is the program that guys are supposed to do."

RHP Danny Salazar is moving cautiously toward a return to Cleveland's pitching staff. He threw 20 pitches at 75 percent on Monday and will throw a few more times this week. "His health is the first priority. He's not rushing into anything," manager Terry Francona said. "This is not a speed-up program. This is a back-to-throw program, this is the program that guys are supposed to do."

RHP Danny Salazar has been shut down for the rest of the regular season because of a right forearm strain, but pitching coach Mickey Callaway said there is a small chance Salazar could pitch out of the bullpen in the postseason. Salazar did some light throwing from 60 feet on Tuesday. "The No. 1 priority is getting him healthy and feeling good. Anything more than that would be great," manager Terry Francona said.

RHP Danny Salazar will miss 3-4 weeks after being diagnosed with a mild strain to his flexor musculature. Salazar underwent an MRI on Monday and will get a platelet-rich plasma injection on Tuesday and won't throw for 10 days. Manager Terry Francona said it is too early to speculate whether Salazar could factor into the Indians' postseason pitching plans. "There's no reason to even speculate," Francona said. "The one thing we want to do is get him healthy and make sure he knows he's healthy because that's important."

RHP Danny Salazar will miss three to four weeks after being diagnosed with a mild strain to his right forearm flexor musculature.Salazar underwent an MRI exam Monday and will get a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday. He won't throw for 10 days. Manager Terry Francona said it is too early to speculate whether Salazar could factor into the Indians' postseason pitching plans. "The biggest thing is to get him healthy," Francona said.

RHP Danny Salazar's season most likely is over. On Monday, an MRI exam on his right forearm showed a mild strain of the flexor muscle. He won't be able to pick up a baseball for at least 10 days and he won't be able to pitch for three to four weeks. If the Indians were to advance deep in the playoffs there would be a chance he could pitch again, but manager Terry Francona isn't counting on seeing the 26-year-old back on the mound anytime soon. Salazar, who compiled a 10-3 record with a 2.75 ERA in the first half of the season to earn his first All-Star appearance, is scheduled to receive a platelet rich plasma injection to speed up the process.