CLEVELAND — The Big Four in the Cleveland Indians’ starting rotation have all been productive and durable this season. But that is about to change as Carlos Carrasco, who leads the team in wins, will miss his scheduled start Wednesday, and is expected to be placed on the disabled list with a sore shoulder.
Carrasco had an MRI on the shoulder Tuesday. Manager Terry Francona said the MRI came back clean, and team officials do not think Carrasco’s condition is serious. Francona called it a case of bursitis, and said Carrasco will be given a cortisone shot.
Carrasco is in the midst of a career year. In 25 starts he is 12-9 with a 3.53 ERA. He is second on the staff to Corey Kluber in strikeouts and innings pitched. In his last five starts Carrasco is 2-1 with a 1.36 ERA and he has held opposing teams to a .134 batting average.
Francona said Carrasco experienced more than the usual amount of soreness in the shoulder following his last start, a 7-3 win over the Yankees in New York on Friday. Carrasco had his usual bullpen session on Tuesday, and experienced no problems. The Indians wanted the MRI, however, just to be sure.
To replace Carrasco in the rotation, the Indians will activate right-hander Cody Anderson, who will start Wednesday’s game in place of Carrasco. Anderson was placed on the DL on Aug. 8 with a strained oblique. Anderson, a rookie, started eight games before going on the DL. He is 2-3 with a 4.31 ERA.
