The Cleveland Indians placed right-handed starter Mike Clevinger on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, but he will be out for much longer.
Clevinger suffered a right upper back/Teres major muscle strain during Sunday’s start. Manager Terry Francona called the injury “fairly significant” and told reporters it could be six to eight weeks “before we’re even looking at him picking up a ball.”
Clevinger (1-0) has not allowed a run in two starts this season while striking out 22 in 12 innings. He left Sunday’s start after just five innings.
“My heart kind of goes out to Clev,” Francona said on MLB.com, “because everyone that’s been around here has seen how hard he’s worked to get where he’s gotten.”
The Indians called up right-hander Nick Wittgren from Triple-A Columbus.
Wittgren, 27, was acquired from the Miami Marlins on Feb. 4 and made eight relief appearances this spring with Cleveland, posting a 3.86 ERA. He was optioned to Columbus on March 23.