INDIANS
Carassco to DL
MINNEAPOLIS — On the same day the Cleveland Indians welcomed back Michael Brantley, they learned they would be without Carlos Carrasco.
As Brantley returned following shoulder surgery and months of recovery, the Indians placed Carrasco on the disabled list Monday with a strained left hamstring that could sideline him for six weeks.
Brantley will be back in the lineup today in Minnesota so he can play in back-to-back games before a day off on Thursday, Manager Terry Francona said. The left fielder was an All-Star and finished third in the AL MVP voting in 2014, but he injured his right shoulder while trying to make a diving catch in Minnesota on Sept. 22.
“Not only is he one of the better hitters in the game, but he’s kind of the heart and soul of this team,” Francona said. “He’s a really good teammate. He’s a really good player. He’s a really good influence. It’ll be really good to have him.”
The excitement for Brantley’s return was tempered somewhat by the loss of Carrasco, a significant blow to Cleveland’s staff that will test the club’s pitching depth.
Carrasco, 29, got hurt while covering first base in the third inning of his start Sunday in Detroit. As he approached the bag, Carrasco’s leg weakened and he dropped to the ground in obvious pain. Carrasco attempted to get up, but grabbed the back of his leg and had to be helped off the field.
He returned to Cleveland for an MRI, which the team said revealed a moderate strain. The right-hander, who had a breakout 2015 with 14 victories and 216 strikeouts in 30 starts, will be out for at least one month, which came as a relief to Francona, who said the team initially feared that he would face a much longer recovery if the muscle separated from the bone.
Trevor Bauer, who replaced Carrasco on Sunday and pitched 3 1/3 innings to get the win, is expected to take Carrasco’s spot in the rotation while he recovers.
REDS
Bruce on paternity list
NEW YORK — The Cincinnati Reds have put right fielder Jay Bruce on the three-day paternity list and called up right-hander reliever Layne Somsen from Class AAA Louisville.
Bruce is expected to miss the three-game series against the New York Mets that started Monday night in New York. It’s planned that he’ll rejoin the team in Pittsburgh on Friday after an off day.
Bruce leads the Reds with 15 RBI. He is hitting .265 with four home runs. He’s in Houston this week with wife Hannah for the birth of their first child.
Somsen, 26, has never pitched in the majors. He had a 1.04 ERA in five games at Class AAA this season.
Reds Manager Bryan Price said the team wanted to have an extra arm available after giving up 38 runs in a four-game series against the Cubs. Cincinnati relievers have pitched 731/3 innings with a 6.26 ERA after 19 games this season.
The Reds selected Somsen’s contract and transferred righty Michael Lorenzen to the 60-day disabled list with a sprained elbow.
TWINS
Buxton demoted
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins have sent center fielder Byron Buxton back to the minors after the organization’s top prospect had another rough start at the plate.
Buxton and outfielder Max Kepler were optioned Monday to Class AAA Rochester before the Twins hosted Cleveland. To aid an ailing roster, utility man Danny Santana was reinstated from the disabled list and right-hander Alex Meyer was recalled from Rochester.
Buxton, 22, is batting .156 with 24 strikeouts in 45 at-bats. He also struggled to hit in his 46-game debut last season. Santana, who missed 14 games with a strained right hamstring, can play center field. Left fielder Eddie Rosario can move over, too.
Meyer posted a 1.04 ERA with four walks and 19 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings for the Class AAA club this month.
MARINERS
Benoit sidelined
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have placed right-handed reliever Joaquin Benoit on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder.
Seattle made the roster move Monday before opening a three-game series against Houston, retroactive to April 22. The Mariners recalled right-hander Mayckol Guaipe from Class AAA Tacoma to take Benoit’s roster spot.
Benoit has been Seattle’s main reliever in the eighth inning this season, but was unavailable for a couple of games earlier this month due to the shoulder. Benoit has appeared in five games this season and given up two earned runs in his five innings pitched. Seattle Manager Scott Servais said he expects to be without Benoit for two or three weeks.
Guaipe made his major league debut with Seattle last season. He had three saves in six games this season with Tacoma.