CLEVELAND (AP) — Mike Clevinger is confident his latest stint on the injured list will be a short one.The Cleveland Indians placed Clevinger on the 10-day IL prior to Friday night's game against Detroit because of a sprained left ankle. The right-hander was scheduled to start Saturday.Clevinger twisted his ankle while coming off the mound to cover first base in the second inning against Texas on Tuesday. He was making his first start since April 7 when he strained a back muscle.Clevinger expects his next start will come when the Indians visit Baltimore for a three-game series that begins June 28."It's nothing bad," he said. "If this was October, I'd probably be out there but coming back from the long layoff, right now everything lines up perfectly for me to only miss one start. It's more logical to do that."Clevinger remained in Tuesday's game but struggled, allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings. The move is retroactive to June 18.The Indians have been dealing with a depleted rotation for... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have placed pitcher Mike Clevinger on the 10-day injured list because of a sprained left ankle.He twisted the ankle while coming off the mound to cover first base in the second inning against Texas on Tuesday. He was making his first start since April 7 when he strained a back muscle.Clevinger remained in the game but struggled, allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings. The move is retroactive to June 18.The right-hander was scheduled to start Saturday against Detroit. Injuries have limited Clevinger to three starts this season in which he's 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA.Aaron Civale will be called up from Triple-A Columbus to start Saturday. Reliever Josh Smith was recalled from Columbus for Friday night's game.The Indians have been dealing with injuries to their rotation this season. Corey Kluber (broken right arm) and Carlos Carrasco (blood condition) are also out.

DETROIT (AP) — Cleveland ace Corey Kluber has been cleared to work on strength building after having his broken arm evaluated.Indians manager Terry Francona said Friday the report on Kluber was good. He said Kluber has "the go ahead to do strengthening stuff" and will be re-evaluated in a couple more weeks.Francona also said right-hander Cody Anderson had surgery Friday to repair a tendon in his right elbow. Anderson appeared in five games for the Indians this season and was sent down to the minors last month.Kluber is 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA this season. The two-time Cy Young Award winner broke his pitching arm when he was hit by a line drive May 1.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Mike Clevinger is rejoining the Indians' rotation sooner than anyone — other than him — expected.The right-hander, whose season seemed in jeopardy when he strained a muscle in his upper back on April 7, will start Monday when Cleveland opens a four-game series at Texas. It's been an unexpectedly quick comeback for Clevinger.The team's medical staff didn't think he'd pick up a ball for 6 to 8 weeks, but the hard-working, hard-throwing Clevinger bounced back. He'll face major league hitters following two minor league rehab starts."I got lucky, I guess you could say," Clevinger said Wednesday before the Indians wrapped up a two-game series with Cincinnati. "It's hard to say after an injury you got lucky, but that was kind of the case here."It's also finally some good fortune for the Indians, who have been without ace Corey Kluber (broken arm) and Carlos Carrasco (blood condition) as they try to stay in striking distance of the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins.Kluber will... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Hours before the first pitch of Sunday's series finale against the Yankees, two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber sprinted across the sun-soaked outfield inside an empty Progressive Field.Except for getting the occasional glance from ushers and vendors preparing for the crowd, Kluber was alone.When he finished a down-and-back between neon yellow cones, Kluber checked a stopwatch to make sure he was hitting his marks. In a day or two, his broken right arm will be re-evaluated to see if he can pitch for Cleveland again this season.For now, his status remains uncertain.Same as the Indians.Approaching the halfway point of a season starting to snake sideways, it is hard to get a handle on the three-time defending AL Central champions, who will host next month's All-Star game.Slowed by a too-often-limp offense, injuries to Kluber as well as starters Mike Clevinger and Carlos Carrasco and the curious case of All-Star third baseman José Ramirez, the Indians are at a crossroads.They're... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:HEALTH SCAREAlready missing two members of their rotation, the Cleveland Indians are going to be without starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco indefinitely because of a recently diagnosed blood condition. The team said Carrasco had been feeling lethargic for weeks, and he is taking a leave of absence to "explore the optimal treatment and recovery options." The Indians gave no specifics on Carrasco's disorder and said any further details will be released at the discretion of him and his family. But they said in a statement they expect the right-hander back at some point this season.The 32-year-old Carrasco had been scheduled to start Wednesday against Minnesota before he was placed on the injured list. He is the third Indians starter sidelined this season. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber has been out for more than month with a broken right arm, and Mike Clevinger is nearing a return after being out since early April with a strained... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:HEALTH SCAREAlready missing two members of their rotation, the Cleveland Indians are going to be without starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco indefinitely because of a recently diagnosed blood condition. The team said Carrasco had been feeling lethargic for weeks, and he is taking a leave of absence to "explore the optimal treatment and recovery options." The Indians gave no specifics on Carrasco's disorder and said any further details will be released at the discretion of him and his family. But they said in a statement they expect the right-hander back at some point this season.The 32-year-old Carrasco had been scheduled to start Wednesday against Minnesota before he was placed on the injured list. He is the third Indians starter sidelined this season. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber has been out for more than month with a broken right arm, and Mike Clevinger is nearing a return after being out since early April with a strained... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco will be sidelined indefinitely because of a recently diagnosed blood condition.The team said Carrasco had been feeling lethargic for weeks, and he is taking a leave of absence to "explore the optimal treatment and recovery options." Carrasco had been scheduled to start Wednesday's game against Minnesota before he was placed on the injured list.Carrasco is the third Indians starter sidelined this season. Two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber has been out for more than month with a broken right arm, and Mike Clevinger is nearing a return after being out since early April with a strained back muscle.The Indians gave no specifics on Carrasco's disorder and said any further details will be released at the discretion of him and his family.Three-time defending AL Central champions, the Indians, who entered Wednesday 10½ games behind first-place Minnesota, don't know when the 32-year-old Carrasco will return. However they said in a statement... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco will be sidelined indefinitely because of a recently diagnosed blood condition.Cleveland said Carrasco had been feeling lethargic for weeks, and he is taking a leave of absence to "explore the optimal treatment and recovery options." Carrasco had been scheduled to start Wednesday's game against Minnesota before he was placed on the injured list.Carrasco is the third Indians starter sidelined this season. Corey Kluber has been out for more than month with a broken right arm, and Mike Clevinger is nearing a return after being out since early April with a strained back muscle.The Indians gave no specifics on Carrasco's disorder and said any further details will be released at the discretion of him and his family.The three-time AL Central champions are 10½ games behind first-place Minnesota. The Indians don't know when the 32-year-old Carrasco will return, but they expect the right-hander back at some point this season."At this time,... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have put pitcher Jefry Rodriguez on the 10-day injured list because of a strained right shoulder.Outfielder Tyler Naquin, who was on the IL since May 11 with a strained left calf, was activated prior to Tuesday night's game against Minnesota.Rodriguez, who is 1-5 with a 4.74 ERA in eight starts, was removed after four innings Saturday against the Chicago White Sox. An examination showed a strain behind the shoulder and Rodriguez is expected to be shut down from throwing for at least two to three weeks.Rodriguez joins starting pitchers Corey Kluber (broken right arm) and Mike Clevinger (strained muscle in upper back) on the IL.Naquin began the season with the Indians and batted .278 with a home run and 10 RBIs in 30 games. He hit .304 with three homers and six RBIs in six games on a minor rehab assignment.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Using the search engine at Baseball-Reference.com, The Associated Press evaluated each team's draft performance from 1996 through 2018, adding up wins above replacement (WAR) figures for drafted players.For each pick, the player's career WAR was added to the appropriate total for the team, depending on whether or not the player signed with the team after being drafted. Some players had their WAR totals included multiple times, if they were drafted more than once.Stats are through May 25. Compensation picks were considered part of the first round where applicable.___ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSTotal WAR for all drafted players: 581.8 (MLB rank: 4th)Total WAR for drafted players who signed: 440.1 (rank: 5th)Total WAR for drafted players who did not sign: 141.7Impact players (10 WAR or more) drafted: 17 (rank: tie-9th)Impact players drafted and signed: 13 (rank: 12th)Most recent impact player drafted and signed: Trevor Bauer, 2011, first round, pick No. 3 (15.2 WAR)Lowest pick for impact player drafted... [More]

Using the search engine at Baseball-Reference.com, The Associated Press evaluated each team's draft performance from 1996 through 2018, adding up wins above replacement (WAR) figures for drafted players.For each pick, the player's career WAR was added to the appropriate total for the team, depending on whether or not the player signed with the team after being drafted. Some players had their WAR totals included multiple times, if they were drafted more than once.Stats are through May 25. Compensation picks were considered part of the first round where applicable.___ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSTotal WAR for all drafted players: 581.8 (MLB rank: 4th)Total WAR for drafted players who signed: 440.1 (rank: 5th)Total WAR for drafted players who did not sign: 141.7Impact players (10 WAR or more) drafted: 17 (rank: tie-9th)Impact players drafted and signed: 13 (rank: 12th)Most recent impact player drafted and signed: Trevor Bauer, 2011, first round, pick No. 3 (15.2 WAR)Lowest pick for impact player drafted... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The hard cast is off Corey Kluber's broken right arm, providing a dose of positive news for the struggling Indians.Kluber, who may be months away from pitching in a game for Cleveland, said Thursday that he felt relief in having the cast protecting his broken arm removed after a few weeks."I can do a little bit more," said Kluber. "So that's good."The two-time Cy Young winner underwent imaging texts, which showed that his ulna is mending properly."He got what we were expecting," manager Terry Francona said before the opener of a four-game series with Tampa Bay. Francona said the team's medical staff told him Kluber had "expected healing. So, he gets that cast off and he can start doing range of motion. And in two weeks he will be re-examined."The right-hander broke his arm when he was struck flush by a line drive hit by Miami's Brian Anderson on May 1. At the time, the Indians said surgery wasn't needed, and it appears Kluber will be able to avoid an operation.Still, it's... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians ace Corey Kluber had the hard cast protecting his broken right arm removed and the two-time Cy Young winner is healing as hoped.Kluber underwent imaging texts Thursday, which showed that his ulna is mending properly. Cleveland manager Terry Francona said Kluber can begin range of motion and that he will be re-examined in two weeks.The right-hander broke his arm when he was struck flush by a line drive hit by Miami's Brian Anderson on May 1. At the time, the Indians said surgery wasn't needed, and Francona said the medical staff told him Kluber was having "expected healing."Kluber has been fitted with a protective brace. He said it was a relief to have the cast off and is excited that he "can do a lot more now."The 33-year-old ran sprints in the outfield before the series opener against Tampa Bay.Kluber won 20 games last season and at least 18 in each of the past three seasons. He is 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA in seven starts this year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians could no longer wait for Carlos Gonzalez to help pull their struggling offense from a season-long funk.The veteran outfielder was designated for assignment prior to Wednesday's game against Oakland. Gonzalez, who signed a minor-league contract in spring training, batted .210 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 30 games.Manager Terry Francona praised Gonzalez's professionalism in the clubhouse, but stressed the decision came down to results."We weren't seeing the offense that we needed and he said that, too," Francona said. "Does it come with another 100 at-bats? We don't have a crystal ball and none of us is smart enough to know what the next 100 at-bats might bring."Gonzalez, 33, played the last 11 seasons for the Colorado Rockies. The Indians hoped his left-handed bat would help offset the loss of free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley. Gonzalez, who had several solid seasons with the Rockies, didn't produce for an offense that is near the bottom... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians pitcher Corey Kluber will have an X-ray on Thursday to evaluate his right arm, broke when hit by a line drive on May 1.Kluber has had his arm in a cast since being injured. Cleveland manager Terry Francona said Monday the cast could be removed and replaced with a removable splint, depending on the results of the X-ray.A two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, Kluber was diagnosed with a nondisplaced fracture to his ulna when struck by a line drive off the bat of Miami's Brian Anderson. The Indians said surgery was not needed,Kluber is 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA in seven starts. Francona said the pitcher has been working on the stationary bike.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Mike Clevinger's comeback is speeding along like one of his fastballs.Cleveland's starter has made startling progress from an upper back strain that threatened his season and was expected to sideline him for several months. But the right-hander, who wasn't expected to be able to pick up a ball for at least two months, will throw his second bullpen session on Friday. He got back on the mound last week in Chicago, throwing 20 pitches."He got a ways to go now to get back," Indians manager Terry Francona said before Thursday's series opener against Baltimore. "But my goodness, if you had told me a month ago that he'd be where he is now ... we're pretty fortunate."Clevinger was removed from a start on April 7 after five innings — he struck out 10 — against Toronto with tightness in his back. Initially, he didn't think he'd miss any time, but imaging tests revealed the strain and the Indians feared they'd be without Clevinger until August. He was placed on the 60-day injured... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The way things have been going, José Ramirez's deep drive figured to be swallowed by the wind.Once it cleared the wall, the Indians could exhale.Ramirez hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning Wednesday night, giving Cleveland a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox that snapped an Indians' losing streak that felt like more than three games.Francisco Lindor singled with one out against Jace Fry (1-1) before Jason Kipnis struck out. Chicago manager Rick Renteria brought in right-hander Kelvin Herrera to face the switch-hitting Ramirez and Lindor stole second on a 2-1 pitch.Ramirez crushed Herrera's next pitch — a 96 mph fastball — through a stiff wind blowing straight into home plate that knocked down at least six previous flies and kept them in the ballpark.When Ramirez's shot landed in the seats in right, it set off a much-needed celebration by the Indians, who have been looking for something to break them out of a season-long offensive slump."I understand we're... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramirez hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, giving Cleveland a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox and snapping the Indians' three-game losing streak Wednesday night.Francisco Lindor singled with one out against Jace Fry (1-1) before Jason Kipnis struck out. Chicago manager Rick Renteria brought in right-hander Kelvin Herrera to face the switch-hitting Ramirez and Lindor stole second on a 2-1 pitch.Ramirez crushed Herrera's next pitch — a 96 mph fastball — through a stiff wind and into the seats in right for his third homer, setting off a much-needed celebration by the Indians.Ramirez's teammates ran to the plate with trays of water cups to greet and douse him. The Indians have been in a season-long offensive slump and have been looking for something to get them going.Brad Hand (2-1) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.José Abreu homered for Chicago.The Indians came in as the AL's worst hitting team — last in average, hits, doubles and triples — and... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Corey Kluber's broken right arm isn't all that's hurting him.Less than one week after absorbing the impact of a 102 mph line drive during a start in Miami, Cleveland's two-time AL Cy Young Award winner said Tuesday he still is coming to grips with his injury."You want to be out there with the team," Kluber said, speaking for the first time since getting hit. "You want to be contributing. When it's your day to pitch, you want to be able to take the ball every fifth day."That won't happen for a while, but Kluber remains optimistic he'll be able to return and pitch this season."I don't have a plan not to pitch again," he said. "Obviously, I don't have a definitive timeline because it's all depending on how things heal. But in my mind, I'm not looking at it as season ending."Sitting at a small table in a room across the hallway from the Indians' clubhouse, Kluber occasionally peered at his arm which has been fitted with a soft cast. The 33-year-old will undergo weekly X-rays... [More]