SEATTLE -- The Indians are extra careful with their pitchers, and as a result, Danny Salazar will miss his scheduled start on Wednesday and the Mariners will get a break from having to face one of the American League's emerging stars.
Salazar's right shoulder did not bounce back from his last start as well as the team normally expects, so righty Cody Anderson will be called up to make Tuesday's start and Carlos Carrasco, who was supposed to throw Tuesday, will start on Wednesday. Josh Tomlin will pitch Thursday, as originally scheduled.
Since Salazar is not going on the disabled list, the Indians will need to make a move to clear roster space for Anderson on Tuesday, then he will be sent back to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday and reliever Joba Chamberlain will be activated from the 15-day DL.
Salazar is in the midst of a strong season, having gone 6-3 with an AL-low 2.24 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings. Cleveland's trainers are calling his current condition a case of right shoulder fatigue, and manager Terry Francona was confident Salazar would be fine after four extra days of rest.
"We keep track of these guys so much and the recovery [between starts]," Francona said, "we just want to make sure that when guys pitch, we don't feel a reason to have [them be] 95 percent."
Salazar went a season-high eight innings on Friday, a win over Kansas City in which he threw 113 pitches, his second-highest total of the year.
"He was a little … I don't know if stiff is the right word … in his shoulder," Francona said. "Just kind of grumpy."
Chamberlain, who has been on the DL since May 23 (retroactive to May 22) with a strain in his left side, was expected to be activated on Monday but will now wait until Wednesday given these circumstances.
"We talked to him yesterday and asked him [to wait]," Francona said. "Typical Joba, he said, 'Yeah, whatever. I'll do whatever."