UPDATE, 4:49: Cash said they felt putting Diaz on the IL was the prudent move as he still has pain in his hand when swinging, which he tried again Thursday. Diaz said he didn’t expect to end up on the IL and was obviously more disappointed that he didn’t get to play against the Indians. ... Indians manager Terry Francona said - with a straight face - that there won’t be any further escalation in the prank war with buddy Kevin Cash: "They’re too good, I’m not going to (mess) with him.'' Cash wasn’t buying it. ... Yarbrough is getting the straight start because of the shape of the bullpen, Cash said, though there also may be a comfort factor. .. Bauers said in the Indians clubhouse it’s been an ongoing adjustment for him and the team, and that the DH role has been “tough” for him but he is excited about his future here, and still obviously has lots of friends on the team still. ... Oscar Mercado, a product, like Cash, of Tampa’s Gaither High, is starting in left for the Indians.
Here is the Indians lineup:
Lindor ss
Kipnis 2b
Santana 1b
Luplow rf
Ramirez 3b
Bauers dh
Haase c
Martin cf
Mercado lf
Plutko p
DEVELOPING: The Rays will be without one of the top hitters in their lineup as former Indians infielder Yandy Diaz was placed on the injured list as they open a short four-game roadtrip in Cleveland tonight, with a 6:10 first pitch.
Diaz has not played since being hit on the left hand by a pitch Sunday in New York, and was still feeling significant pain when he took swings in the cage Wednesday afternoon.
Needing to make room on the roster to call up pitcher Ryan Yarbrough, the Rays opted to play it safe with Diaz, who was looking forward to facing his former mates. The IL move is back dated to Monday, so Diaz could return by May 30 for the opening of the series with the Twins.
Yarbrough is not only slated to work the bulk of the innings, but he will start for the Rays.
After a spring interrupted by a groin strain and some sick days, Yarbrough got off to a rough start to the season with the Rays, going 2-1, 8.10 in five games. He was sent to Triple-A so he could work on a regular basis, and seems to have done well, posting a 2-0, 2.14 mark in four games (three starts).
Here is the Rays lineup:
Meadows dh
Pham lf
Choi 1b
Garcia rf
B. Lowe 2b
Adames ss
Kiermaier cf
Kratz c
Robertson 3b
Yarbrough p