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MLB notebook: Struggling Indians get LHP Miller back

[May 12, 2018] The struggling Cleveland Indians are getting star reliever Andrew Miller back as they attempt to break out of their season-long slumber.

Miller, out since straining his left hamstring against the Chicago Cubs on April 25, was activated from the 10-day disabled list Friday. The Indians went 5-9 in his absence, with their bullpen posting a 9.50 ERA across 36 innings in that span.

Miller, 32, has given up only six hits and struck out 17 in 10 scoreless innings of work this season.

Cleveland is in first place in the AL Central but sits at 18-18. The Indians begin a three-game series at home against Kansas City on Friday.

--The Toronto Blue Jays placed struggling right-hander Marcus Stroman on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder fatigue. The move is retroactive to Thursday.

Stroman is 0-5 with a 7.71 ERA in seven starts this season. The 27-year-old dealt with shoulder inflammation in spring that forced him to push back his first start.

The Jays also optioned left-hander Tim Mayza to Triple-A Buffalo. Right-handers Joe Biagini and Sam Gaviglio were recalled from Buffalo in corresponding moves.

--After missing more than a month, Rougned Odor will be back on the field for the Texas Rangers.

Out since April 9 with a strained hamstring, Odor was activated off the disabled list and batted seventh and played second base at Houston.

Texas designated utility player Renato Nunez for assignment to make room for Odor. Nunez was batting .167 with a home run and two RBIs since being claimed off waivers from Oakland on April 15.

--The Washington Nationals placed catcher Matt Wieters on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

Wieters is batting .231 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 23 games this season.

In a corresponding move, the Nats selected the contract of Spencer Kieboom from Triple-A Syracuse, transferring outfielder Adam Eaton to the 60-day disabled list to open up a spot on the 40-man roster. Eaton underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle Thursday.

--The Oakland Athletics placed outfielder Stephen Piscotty on the bereavement list, recalling right-hander Kendall Graveman from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move.

Piscotty is not accompanying the team on its trip to New York to play the Yankees as he attends a celebration of life on Monday for his late mother, Gretchen, who died from Lou Gehrig's disease on Sunday night. She was 55 years old.

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Piscotty played twice in Oakland this week and is hitting .248 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 34 games this season.

--Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket early next week, manager Alex Cora told reporters.

Pedroia has been sidelined since undergoing offseason surgery on his left knee in October. He could return to the Red Sox's lineup by the end of May, as expected back in spring training.

"He's in a good place," Cora said. "I talked to him yesterday. He feels he's getting closer with soreness from his spring training is almost gone, so that's a good sign. So we feel comfortable with him starting to play next week."

--The New York Mets will be without outfielder Jay Bruce this weekend as he attends the birth of his second child.

Bruce, 31, is hitting .233 with three home runs, 14 RBIs and 10 runs so far this season.

The Mets recalled first baseman Dominic Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas to fill Bruce's roster spot. In addition, the Mets placed right-hander Hansel Robles on the 10-day DL, retroactive to Wednesday, with a right knee sprain. The team called up left-hander Buddy Baumann, who will have to sit out a game as punishment for his part in an early-season brawl with the Colorado Rockies when Baumann was with the San Diego Padres.

--Outfielders Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr. are leaving Cuba in hopes of joining Major League Baseball.

The brothers, sons of Cuban veteran Victor Mesa, will be represented by Magnus Sports, according to a report by Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.

The elder brother, Victor Victor, is 21 and has six years of pro ball in Cuba under his belt. Mesa Jr. is just 16 years old. Per MLB's rules, the Mesas would be considered amateurs and would have to be signed via teams' international player bonus pools after the league declares them free agents, which could take several months.

--Field Level Media

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