The Indians have recalled left-handed reliever Nick Hagadone Columbus, and sent down right-handed reliever Mark Lowe.
This move is not especially surprising for a couple of reasons:
- The Indians used all nine relievers in Tuesday night's 14-hour marathon, and could use someone in the bullpen tonight who didn't throw yesterday.
- More significantly, Mark Lowe hasn't been very good.
Lowe's 3.86 ERA in 7.0 innings with the Indians in two different stints this season doesn't seem all that bad (though a 3.86 ERA for a reliever isn't good either), but when you look beyond ERA, you see 10 hits, 6 walks, and 2 home runs allowed in those 7 innings, including at least one baserunner in all seven of his appearances, and multiple baserunners in five of those games.
Hagadone's MLB track record isn't great either, but he has 41 strikeouts in only 26.2 innings with Columbus this season, compared to a reasonable 10 walks. It's also a good time to bring up another southpaw, as this weekend's opponent, Seattle, has 6 lefties in its normal starting lineup, including its two best hitters, Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager.
Changing the last man in the bullpen isn't an especially important move, but every bit counts, and Hagadone is better than Lowe, making this a good move.