“He was going to go 25-30 (pitches), all fastballs,” manager Terry Francona said. “He’s doing a good job.”
Kluber, 33, has kept himself in tremendous shape throughout the process and is doing everything he can to return to the field as soon as possible according to his teammates and coaches.
Carlos Carrasco continues to throw and workout like normal, despite his ongoing battle with leukemia.
“We feel like the more he can do, one, it’s better for his brain, you know, just his outlook – keeping him going,” Francona said. “Then, if there is a time when everybody says that he can pitch, he won’t have been that far off because he’s been throwing. To speculate, I don’t think is fair to him. We’ve just been trying to be supportive.”
Danny Salazar started for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday afternoon. It was his first appearance for the Clippers this season. He threw 3⅓ scoreless innings, allowing three hits, one walk and finishing with six strikeouts. He made two starts for Double-A Akron prior to Sunday's start, posting a 3.18 ERA, allowing two runs and five hits in 5⅔ innings pitched.
Salazar’s last appearance in a big league game was on October 9, 2017 in a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.
The Indians haven’t decided if he’ll be a starter or a reliever if he can stay healthy enough to make it back to the Major Leagues, which likely depends on Kluber’s recovery and the overall health of the rest of the rotation.
Salazar, 29, is making $4.5 million this season and is arbitration eligible in 2020.