Josh Tomlin could begin rehab assignment as early as this week

DETROIT– Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin could begin a rehab assignment as early as this week.

According to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian, Tomlin is expected to throw a simulation game on Tuesday in Minnesota. After that, there’s a possibility he could begin a rehab assignment on Friday. Considering rehab stints last 30 days, he would likely not be activated until after roster expansion takes place on Sept. 1.

Josh Tomlin will throw a sim game in Minnesota on Tuesday and then might begin rehab assignment on Friday. Rehab stints last 30 days, so would make his being activated after Sept. 1 roster expansion the likely scenario.

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 29, 2018

Tomlin landed on the DL on July 10 with a strained right hamstring. He has struggled throughout the 2018 season, posting a 6.98 ERA in 23 appearances, six of which were starts. Through 49 innings, he has surrendered a whopping 21 home runs. While he was initially the team’s No. 5 starter, the Indians opted to move him to the bullpen in early May.

For 11 games, the experiment seemed to be paying off– he had a 1.98 ERA. But over his most recent five relief appearances, the longest-tenured Indian gave up eight runs on eight hits, three of which were home runs.