Cleveland Indians Recall Shawn Armstrong; Option Austin Adams

Cleveland Indians Recall Shawn Armstrong; Option Austin Adams

The Cleveland Indians have recalled right-handed reliever Shawn Armstrong from Triple-A Columbus to bolster a bullpen that’s seen a lot of action the last couple days. Fellow reliever Austin Adams was optioned to Triple-A Columbus to make room for Armstrong.

Armstrong is making yet another appearance in the big leagues, having been up and down a couple times over the past two years. In 2016, he has made just one appearance, throwing one inning back on May 31st allowing a run on run on two hits.

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With the Triple-A Columbus Clippers this year, Armstrong has made 40 appearances with a 2.18 ERA and 2.28 FIP. He’s struck out 62 in 41 1/3 innings (13.5 K/9); however, he has also walked 27 (5.9 BB/9). He’s better better of late with his control but it’s been the one thing that has kept him in the minors. He was also nearly traded to the Milwaukee Brewers as the fourth member of the voided Jonathan Lucroy trade.

Adams returns to Columbus after a rough outing last night in which he allowed two runs in the 9th inning of the 10-6 loss. It was his 15th appearance on the year with the Indians. In his 15 1/3 innings, he has a 7.04 ERA and 4.70 FIP. He does have much better strikeout and walks rates (8.8 K/9, 2.9 BB/9), but the overall results haven’t been pretty.

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Armstrong’s stay may be a short one once again as the Indians plan on bringing up Mike Clevinger to start tomorrow’s finale against the Minnesota Twins. Odds are a reliever will go down for Clevinger though perhaps it would be someone other than Armstrong. For at least one more day the Tribe will have an 8-man bullpen.