Floyd scheduled to be activated Tuesday
Right-hander set to rejoin Indians when Major League rosters expand
CLEVELAND -- Gavin Floyd's comeback to the Major Leagues is nearly complete. Indians manager Terry Francona announced on Saturday that the veteran pitcher is scheduled to be activated from the disabled list when Major League rosters expand on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old Floyd, who re-fractured the olecranon bone in his right elbow during Spring Training, is slated to log three innings for Double-A Akron on Saturday before rejoining Cleveland. If Floyd gets clearance by the Tribe's medical staff, Francona said the Indians will bring the righty back as a reliever for the season's final month.
"This gives him a chance to pitch in Major League games," Francona said, "which I think we all felt he deserved because of the effort he put in. I don't think anybody thought it was really a necessity that he starts games and gets deep right now. I just think, for what he's been through, for him to pitch in Major League games will be a really good thing for him. And I think he was excited."
The Indians signed Floyd to a one-year, $4-million contract over the offseason to serve as a starter this season, but the preseason injury took the pitcher out of the mix for the season's first five months. Francona said Floyd will be allowed to have a longer warm-up routine before relief appearances, and the team will use him in lower-leverage situations at first.
Worth noting
• When MLB rosters expand to 40 players on Tuesday, Francona said the Indians will promote a pitcher. The manager added that there would likely be "a couple callups" during the team's series next weekend in Detroit. Some candidates currently on the 40-man roster include: pitchers Shawn Armstrong and C.C. Lee, first baseman Jesus Aguilar, utility man Zach Walters and outfielders Michael Choise and Tyler Holt.
• Utility man Chris Johnson (15-day disabled list due to a left index finger infection) had three at-bats in a Minor League rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on Friday and was scheduled to play again at Double-A on Saturday. Francona said Johnson is "good to go" and remains on target to be activated on Tuesday in Toronto.
• Right-hander Carlos Carrasco (15-day DL due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder) is tentatively scheduled to play catch on Sunday.
"He's doing good," Francona said. "[Playing catch] is not going to be an issue. I'd be shocked if he doesn't feel great."