Right-hander Mitch Talbot is closing in on a return to Indians' rotation Saturday against Seattle.
View full sizeIndians starter Mitch Talbot has been on the disabled list since July 30, but is working his way back to the rotation.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Tribe hosts the Orioles tonight at Progressive Field.
Pitching matchup: RHP Justin Masterson (4-10, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Arrieta (3-3, 5.07).
Pregame notes: Indians right-hander Mitch Talbot, who has been on the disabled list since July 30 because of a mid-back strain, is on track to return to the rotation Saturday against Seattle.
Talbot threw 33 pitches in three innings Monday for the short-season Mahoning Valley Scrappers. He then threw 17 pitches on the side.
The reports were good.
"If he goes through (Tuesday) feeling well, with no problems, he should be able to take his spot in the rotation Saturday,'' Tribe manager Manny Acta said.
Talbot is 8-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts of his rookie season. The back forced an early exit from a start against the Yankees on July 29.
At the moment, lefty David Huff (2-11, 6.21 ERA) is in line to pitch Saturday. Huff, who was roughed up by the Minnesota Twins last Sunday, led the Tribe with 11 victories last year.
More injury updates: Lefty Aaron Laffey (shoulder fatigue) threw a bullpen Tuesday. Acta said he anticipated Laffey will have another bullpen session in a couple of days.
The Indians are undecided whether Laffey, on the DL since July 23, will come back as a starter or reliever.
"The first thing is to get him healthy,'' Acta said.
Acta said designated hitter Travis Hafner (right shoulder inflammation) is feeling better and is a couple of days from swinging the bat. Hafner has been on the DL since Aug. 3.
"He'll need at least two good batting practices, then we'll decide if he needs to go out,'' Acta said. "One BP at a time.''
Staying hungry: The Indians have gone 13-11 since the All-Star break, all games coming against teams with winning records at the time. As the schedule gets easier on paper the next few weeks, Acta does not anticipate any let-up from the youngest 25-man roster in the majors.
"We have so many young guys trying to prove they belong,'' he said. "They know if somebody doesn't go hard, somebody else will be in there.''
They're in: The Indians have signed right-handers Cole Cook and Nate Striz, their fifth- and 22nd-round picks, respectively.
Cook is Cleveland's highest choice to sign. The signing deadline is midnight on Monday, Aug. 16.
Bird chirps: The Orioles own the worst record in the majors at 38-74 but have gone 6-1 under manager Buck Showalter. Three of Showalter's victories have resulted from walkoffs.
Tuesday's game will be Baltimore's first away from Camden Yards under Showalter. The Orioles are 14-40 on the road.
Baltimore is 18-46 at Progressive Field since the ballpark opened in 1994.
Lineups: Orioles (38-74) -- 1. Brian Roberts 2b; 2. Nick Markakis rf; 3. Ty Wigginton 3b; 4. Luke Scott 1b; 5. Adam Jones cf; 6. Felix Pie lf; 7. Matt Wieters c; 8. Corey Patterson dh; 9. Cesar Izturis ss; and Arrieta.
Indians (47-65) -- 1. Michael Brantley cf; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Matt LaPorta 1b; 5. Jordan Brown dh; 6. Trevor Crowe lf; 7. Luis Valbuena 3b; 8. Jason Donald 2b; 9. Lou Marson c; and Masterson.
Umpires: P -- Tom Hallion; 1b -- Ron Kulpa; 2b -- Lance Barksdale; 3b -- Brian O'Nora.