Smoke signals

• Francona said he pulled lefty Scott Kazmir in the fourth inning on Monday because the starter looked "sluggish" against Seattle. Over his past two starts, Kazmir has gone 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA -- eight innings, 13 hits, nine earned runs, five strikeouts, four walks. He went 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA -- 17 innings, 15 hits, five earned runs, 21 strikeouts, three walks -- in his previous three outings.

"I think we have to be cognizant of the fact that he hasn't pitched every five days for a while," Francona said of Kazmir, whose last full season was 2010. "If at times you have a little shorter outing, that may help him in his next start. I just think we need to remember that sometimes. Everything is OK."

• With Swisher on the paternity list, Francona placed left fielder Michael Brantley in the cleanup spot for Tuesday's game against Detroit. Brantley, who is hitting .306 with nine extra-base hits and 20 RBIs through 42 games, has now appeared in every lineup spot for Cleveland this season.

"He slots in anywhere and he gives you a professional, Major League at-bat," Francona said. "So it really works for us well, and he's willing to do it. Michael's such a team guy. He understands that if it helps our ballclub, he'll do it."

• The Indians entered Tuesday with five walk-off victories this season. Three of those last at-bat wins came during Cleveland's recent four-game sweep against the Mariners. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marks the first time the Indians had three walk-off wins in one series since July 23-26, 1992, against the Royals.

• On Tuesday, the Indians named Class A Advanced Carolina right-hander Cody Anderson their Minor League Player of the Week for May 13-20. During that stretch, Anderson posted a 0.73 ERA, allowing one run in 12 1/3 innings. He piled up 16 strikeouts and was also named the Carolina League's Pitcher of the Week.