Designated RHP Derek Lowe for Assignment

The Indians didn't really have a choice here. After a very good two months, Lowe has been awful, sporting an 8.80 ERA since the his last start of May. The Indians did get 9 good starts out of him, 9 more than I initially thought they were going to get, and was one of the main reasons why the Indians managed to be a mediocre team through the early months of the season.

Lowe will likely clear waivers and will become a free agent. He's 39 years old, and is probably going to contemplate retirement. He's had a very good career, throwing over 2600 innings with an ERA+ of 109. Since returning to the rotation in 2002, he's also been a very durable pitcher, throwing over 180 innings each year. Since signing a deal with the Braves before the 2009 season, he's fallen off dramatically, falling below the league average ERA each year since arriving in Atlanta.

Recalled RHP Corey Kluber from Columbus (AAA)

Although Lowe was designated to make room for Kluber, Corey will be taking Josh Tomlin's spot in the rotation. The Indians will need to come up with a starter for Sunday's game, when Lowe's spot will come up next,

Kluber came to the Indians in the Jake Westbrook three-way deal; the Padres sent Kluber to Cleveland, and received Ryan Ludwick from the Cardinals. The Padres drafted Kluber in the 4th round of the 2007 draft out of Stetson University. He worked his way up the minor-league ladder slowly, posting good strikeout rates but at the same time allowing a lot of hits and walks, and at the time of the trade wasn't considered much of a prospect. When he was first acquired, I thought he was better suited for a relief role. But the Indians kept him in the rotation, and this year they've been rewarded.

The Clippers play in a bandbox, which makes their hitters look better and pitchers look worse than they actually are. Kluber has a 4.71 ERA in home games, but a 2.39 ERA in road games; 8 of the 9 home runs he's allowed this season have come at home. In his last 10 starts, he's posted a 2.90 ERA, and averaged 6.2 innings per start and 6 strikeouts a start. Like McAllister, Kluber is a big guy (6'4", 215 lbs), and has thrown over 150 innings in his previous 3 seasons, so innings shouldn't be that much of a concern.