Indians Shift Trevor Bauer From Starter to the Bullpen

It’s been a struggle as of late for Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer, and today the team made a move with him, shifting him from the starter role to the bullpen.

Bauer hasn’t pitched from the pen since coming to the Tribe a few years back in a trade, but after allowing 26 runs in last 30.2 innings with a 7.63 ERA over that stretch, something had to be done as the Indians continue pushing towards a possible wild card birth in the AL.

“We talked to Trevor and told him in the near future, he’ll be in the bullpen,” Indians manager Terry Francona told the media today. “We do envision him probably making starts this year.”

Francona said that pitching coach Mickey Calloway has continued to work with Bauer on his issues, and that they will keep helping the young pitcher develop.

“The hope is is that this can be a collaborative effort and we’ve kind of told him that,” Francona said of Bauer.

“For that to be, you have to buy into it. I think that’s an on-going, I don’t want to say challenge… Not everybody’s the same and we certainly respect that. Just try to do the best you can.”

Francona did say that he thinks Bauer can take the mound again as a starter at some point this season, despite there being just two plus weeks left.

With Bauer going to the pen, the rotation will be Corey Kluber starting tonight, Cody Anderson starting tomorrow against the White Sox, Carlos Carrasco on Saturday, and Josh Tomlin on Sunday, and then Danny Salazar Tuesday when the team goes to Minnesota.