CLEVELAND -- Josh Tomlin has been trying to get back on track on the mound all season for the Indians. Now, the pitcher will try to find the root of his issues while dealing with a stint on the disabled list.
Prior to Tuesday's game against the Reds, Cleveland placed Tomlin on the 10-day DL with a strained right hamstring and promoted righty Adam Plutko from Triple-A Columbus to take the veteran's spot in the bullpen. The move comes one day after Tomlin -- working in a third consecutive game for the first time in his career -- allowed a critical ninth-inning home run in the Tribe's 7-5 loss to the Reds.
"We finally corralled him and got him to kind of own up to [the fact that] his hammy was bothering him," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Watching him, I'm kind of kicking myself a little bit, because I knew something wasn't right. On the one hand, you appreciate guys who'll to go out there. But it just was getting in the way."
Tomlin, who spent time on the DL last season due to a left hamstring injury, has posted a 6.98 ERA in 23 appearances, including six starts early in the season for Cleveland. In 49 innings, the right-hander has surrendered 21 home runs (tied for the third-highest total in baseball this year). Tomlin's home run rate (3.86 per nine innings) is the highest in MLB history for a single season among pitchers with at least 40 innings.
Tomlin moved to the bullpen in late May and initially turned in a 1.98 ERA in his first 11 appearances in relief. Over his past five outings, though, the righty has given up eight runs on eight hits, including three home runs, in 4 1/3 innings. Tomlin -- the longest-tenured player in the Indians organization -- has allowed a .300/.338/.657 opponents' slash line overall this season.
"It's frustrating," Tomlin said after Monday's defeat. "I'll come back [Tuesday] and try to find a way to get better. That's the only thing I can do, just try to figure out what I'm doing -- either mentally, physically, whatever the case may be -- and try to get it figured out as quickly as I can."
Francona said the Indians will have Tomlin take a few days off from throwing before determining a course of action for the right-hander's return.
"He'll never stop working," Francona said. "I have no doubt he'll find a way to contribute to our team, even on the DL, because that's who he is."

Plutko, 26, returns for his fourth stint with the Tribe this season. In seven games (six starts) in the Majors this year, the righty has gone 4-2 with a 4.66 ERA. Plutko has a 1.94 ERA with 59 strikeouts against 13 walks in 65 innings for Columbus this season.
"We're trying to protect the bullpen," Francona said of adding Plutko. "We value enough what he's doing as a starter that this isn't long-term."
Doby honored with Congressional Gold Medal
The United States House of Representatives passed the Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act, which was sponsored by U.S. representatives Bill Pascrell (New Jersey) and Jim Renacci (Ohio). The legislation awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the late Doby, who broke the color barrier in the American League with the Indians on July 5, 1947.
"The Cleveland Indians organization is extremely proud of Larry Doby's legacy," Bob DiBiasio, the Indians' senior vice president of public affairs, said in a statement. "Mr. Doby, a symbol of equality and freedom of opportunity stood with grace, dignity and a competitive spirit that resonated throughout Ohio and across America."
Worth noting
• Outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall (10-day DL) sought a second medical opinion from specialist Dr. Wiemi Douoguih, who confirmed a Grade 3 strain of the left soleus muscle (calf) on Monday in Washington, D.C. Chisenhall is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks.
• Left-hander Tyler Olson (10-day DL, left lat) threw a bullpen session on Monday, so the Indians opted against activating him on Tuesday. Francona said the club could activate Olson as early as Wednesday, but that they are still discussing the situation.
• Francona said the Indians would have news coming on lefty Ryan Merritt (60-day DL, left knee) within the next few days. Merritt has posted a 5.40 ERA with 18 strikeouts against one walk in 21 2/3 innings in five starts in his latest Minor League rehab assignment with Columbus.
• Reliever George Kontos cleared waivers and has accepted an outright assignment to Columbus. Kontos was designated for assignment on Friday in order to activate starter Carlos Carrasco from the 10-day DL and add him back to the roster.
• Right-hander Nicholas Goody (60-day DL, right elbow) resumed a throwing program on Tuesday. There remains no established timetable for his return.