CHICAGO -- The Indians made the expected move of promoting starter Adam Plutko from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday to assume the fifth spot in the rotation, beginning with a start against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. It was the other side of the transaction that came as a bit of a surprise.
In order to clear room on the active roster for Plutko, Cleveland placed outfielder Brandon Guyer on the 10-day disabled list with a left cervical (neck) strain. That represents the latest setback for the Tribe's injury-riddled outfield, which now has four of its Opening Day options on the shelf.
Guyer injured his neck in the eighth inning against the Astros on Saturday, when he attempted to make a catch on a ball that carried into the stands in foul ground down the right-field line. As Guyer closed in on the wall, a fan reached for the ball and his arm came into contact with the back of the right fielder's head and neck.
"When he went into the stands the other day, he got like a forearm or something [to the neck]," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "So we checked him for concussions, but his neck, it was almost like whiplash-ish. He hasn't played since that. I think he could've if we had to, but we're trying to be mindful of it."
On the DL alongside Guyer are outfielders Bradley Zimmer (left rib contusion), Lonnie Chisenhall (right calf strain) and Tyler Naquin (left hamstring strain). Zimmer is on the road with the Indians, has resumed taking batting practice and might be ready for a return to games by the weekend. Chisenhall is currently in the early stages of a Minor League rehab with Triple-A Columbus. Naquin remains in Cleveland working through a rehab program.
With those four outfielders sidelined, Cleveland's outfield consists of Michael Brantley in left field, Greg Allen in center, Melky Cabrera in right and Rajai Davis serving as a backup for all three spots.
Plutko is taking the rotation spot vacated by veteran Josh Tomlin, who has moved to the bullpen.

In seven starts this season for the Clippers, Plutko posted a 2.25 ERA with 35 strikeouts against nine walks in 44 innings. The right-hander also made a spot start for the Tribe in Game 2 of a doubleheader against Toronto on May 3, allowing three runs over 7 1/3 innings for his first Major League victory.
"The kid deserves a lot of credit," Francona said of Plutko, who underwent right hip surgery in October. "He had a really tough year last year numbers-wise, and then you find out the hip was bothering him. He gets that fixed and he's been pretty darn good. It kind of gets exciting. Finding good pitching is not easy."