CLEVELAND -- The Indians placed right-hander Danny Salazar on the paternity list on Monday afternoon prior to the start of their three-game set against the Twins at Progressive Field. Right-hander Shawn Armstrong was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to take his place on the active roster.
Salazar posted his strongest start in the second half of the season in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Texas. The righty had 10 strikeouts and a pair of walks over 5 1/3 innings, in which he allowed just two runs. Salazar made 98 pitches in the loss -- a feat for the Tribe hurler, who has battled with health issues since the All-Star break.
His stint on the paternity list is expected to last just the three days, and he should be on schedule to make his next start for the Tribe.
"They're in town, and I think it's supposed to be now. I think 4 o'clock," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "So Armstrong is here to help our bullpen, and Danny will just fall right into his next start."
Armstrong has spent a majority of the year with Columbus, posting a 3-1 record and a 1.84 ERA along with nine saves in 10 opportunities. The righty had not allowed a run over his past 19 appearances in Triple-A dating back to July 3. During that stretch, he allowed just eight hits while whiffing 27 batters over 20 innings.
Cleveland began a 10-game homestand on Monday after going 2-5 during a seven-game road trip to Oakland and Texas. The offense managed more than one run in just one of those contests.
"I think it's different every night," Francona said. "That's why I don't really break down the whole road trip. It's different every night. You face a different type of pitcher. Oakland, I thought they pitched us pretty tough. Then we get to Texas, and Cole Hamels is really good. And then the last two days, you faced a righty and then a lefty that were fastball, and then offspeed was very slow. I think we got a little impatient there."
Worth noting
Cleveland catcher Yan Gomes is continuing his rehab from a right shoulder injury that has sidelined him since mid-July. On Monday, Francona noted that his next step will be a Minor League rehab assignment as a designated hitter, though Gomes is not there yet.
"He's hitting on the field, he's doing all that stuff, and he continues to try to get stronger, especially with his throwing," Francona said, "because the hitting has come quicker than the throwing, which I think makes sense. So just let him continue to do what he's doing, and at some point, when he's ready to maybe go out and DH, that could come first, and he could still continue to work on his throwing."