CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Indians optioned Triston McKenzie to Columbus Saturday, a day after he imploded on the mound.
McKenzie walked four batters in the fourth inning which ignited a nine-run outburst from the Twins in a 10-0 loss Friday night.
“We just feel like for Triston’s development, we almost need to let him hit the reset and go back to Triple-A and start to build from the ground up and get himself in position where he can help us win games,” Francona said prior to Saturday’s game with the Twins. “We felt like him doing that here right now wasn’t happening.”
Like Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac, McKenzie originally made the jump from Double-A to the majors, skipping Triple-A but now he'll head down I-71 and get an opportunity to refine his approach physically and mentally.
“I think we’ve been extremely fortunate that guys like Civale and Plesac, they’ve been able to make the jump,” Francona said. “It’s a lot to ask. We know that [and] tried to remind Triston of that today. A lot of guys have to go back and figure some things out, especially guys that miss innings at the upper levels [of the minors].”
Overall, McKenzie is 1-3 with a 6.89 ERA, and while he has struck out 44 batters, he’s also walked 30 in seven starts.
“I feel like it’s been a common theme in most of my starts, the walks,” McKenzie said Friday night. “I feel like I’ve worked on some delivery stuff leading up to this start. I feel like now it just comes down to a mindset thing and making sure I’m in the [strike] zone.”
The right-hander, who has allowed 16 earned runs over his last four starts, has failed to pitch into the fifth inning in five of his seven starts this season and walked at least four batters in five of them as well.
“It’s been a slippery slope,” McKenzie said. “Instead of attacking the next guy I’ve been like, ‘don’t let another one happen’ and I need to get out of that mindset.”
With McKenzie back to the minors, the last two spots in the rotation are in flux, but Francona understands that comes with the territory with young arms.
“We knew there were going to be hiccups,” Francona said. “To expect thee wouldn’t be isn’t fair so you try and figure out the best way where it doesn’t impact – one, you losing and try to help their development at the same time… That’s the balance you try to strike and we talk about stuff continuously.”
In a corresponding move, reliever Kyle Nelson was called back up.
Nelson was with the Indians from April 26-May 2. He worked two hitless innings during his first stint. At Columbus this year Nelson owns a 1.23 ERA after appearing in six games and throwing 7 1/3 innings where he allowed six hits and one earned run.
Wait and see – Francona wasn’t ready to say who will take McKenzie’s spot in the rotation this week.
“Some of it is going to be dependent on how we get to Wednesday what we do,” Francona said.
Extra man – The expansion to a 26-man roster has been a big help to Francona and the Indians, allowing them to carry an extra bullpen arm this season.
“It’s really saved us in our bullpen because we’ve had two young starters in McKenzie and [Sam] Hentges and we’re trying to balance developing, in some ways limiting innings, and winning games,” Francona said. “So having the extra arm or two has really been beneficial where we don’t overdue the guys in the bullpen, either.”
Up next – Series concludes Sunday afternoon at 1:10. RHP Zach Plesac (4-3, 3.93 ERA) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (2-2, 5.35 ERA).
