Monday, February 25, 2013
Fifth starter race in Cleveland
By Doug Mittler
The opening weekend of Cactus League play gave a first glimpse of what should be a three-way race for the job of fifth starter with the Cleveland Indians.
Carlos Carrasco, Scott Kazmir and offseason acquisition Trevor Bauer are in the mix for a rotation spot and all pitched in the Tribe’s 7-4 split-squad win over the Brewers on Sunday afternoon, reports Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer. Carrasco, who missed the 2012 season following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, allowed four runs in the first. Kazmir, who is attempting a comeback of his own, and Bauer each threw two scoreless innings.
The pitcher with the biggest upside is clearly the 22-year-old Bauer, who was the third overall pick in the 2011 draft but rubbed Arizona players and management the wrong way in his stint with the big league club last season. By staging an open competition for the final rotation spot, the Tribe is letting Bauer know that nothing will be handed to him.
Another possibility is Daisuke Matsuzaka, who threw two scoreless innings Sunday against the Reds
