Cleveland Indians option Austin Adams, recall Shawn Armstrong

The Cleveland Indians made a long-overdue move this afternoon, optioning relief pitcher Austin Adams to Triple-A and recalling Shawn Armstrong to the bullpen. The move comes less than 24 hours after Adams gave up a dagger of a two-run home run in the top of the ninth against the Minnesota Twins.

Adams has been ineffective all season long, allowing 12 earned runs off of 18 hits in 15.1 relief innings. If he could develop an effective second pitch his 97 mph fastball would be a huge asset, but as it is opposing batters have no issues following his heater and killing it out of ballparks.

Replacing Adams will be Shawn Armstrong, who has been a mixed-bag with the Columbus Clippers this season, but has the potential to strike a lot of batters out. In 41.1 Triple-A innings this season, Armstrong has struck out 62 batters, but also walked 27. He was up earlier this season in May when he pitched a single inning of relief and allowed a run off of two hits. The 25-year-old right-hander has a mid-90s fastball, a slider, and curveball in his arsenal.