The Cleveland Indians rotation has suffered a huge loss, as reigning American League Cy Young winner Corey Kluber is dealing with an injured hamstring.
Continue for updates.
Kluber Out with Hamstring Strain
Friday, Sept. 4
According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, Kluber will not make his scheduled start Friday against the Detroit Tigers with a strained hamstring that could keep him out for an additional start.
The good news for Cleveland is Bastian did note Kluber is expected to pitch again this season, though did not specify a potential return date.
Kluber exploded onto the scene in 2014 with a 2.44 ERA and 269 strikeouts in 235.2 innings, becoming Cleveland's third Cy Young winner since 2007. He has followed that up with another stellar season, leading the league in innings pitched (200.1) while posting a career-best strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.76).
As the Indians were making their run to the playoffs two years ago, though, Kluber was on the sideline in September with a sprained right middle finger. He didn't have any issues last year, making 34 starts, so the 29-year-old is not injury-prone.
Cleveland's rotation lost Carlos Carrasco to the disabled list with a sore shoulder at the end of August, so taking Kluber out of the mix leaves two huge holes for manager Terry Francona to work around.
The Indians have climbed back to within striking distance of the second wild-card spot, entering play on Friday six games behind the Texas Rangers, so the loss of Kluber for even one start will make it difficult for them to have any hope of making up that difference with 30 games left.
Even though the Indians have been a disappointment this season, Kluber has remained a rock at the top of their rotation. His absence will change the dynamic of Cleveland's rotation, even if the team's playoff hopes are slim at this point.
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