CLEVELAND -- Starter Kevin Millwood was placed on the 15-day
disabled list with a strained right groin Thursday by the Cleveland
Indians.
The club also recalled left-hander Brian Tallet from Triple-A
Buffalo.
Millwood got hurt while throwing a pitch in the fifth inning of
Wednesday night's win over Minnesota. The right-hander tried to
stay in the game but couldn't push off the mound without pain and
took himself out.
Millwood's injury could be costly to the Indians (21-24).
Cleveland has won four of five entering its series finale against
the Twins, and trails first-place Chicago by 11 games in the AL
Central.
In January, Millwood signed a one-year, $7 million free agent
contract with Cleveland. The innovative, incentive-heavy deal
guaranteed him $3 million. His bonus money is contingent on him
staying healthy.
If Millwood spends 21 or more days on the DL for an injury to
his shoulder or elbow sustained while pitching, he would lose
$21,857 of the signing bonus for each day on the DL, including the
first 20.
He made only 25 starts for Philadelphia last season and spent
six weeks on the disabled list with elbow problems.
But because Millwood's current injury is not to his arm or
shoulder, his contract will not be affected.
Millwood has pitched well but doesn't have the record to show
for it as the Indians, who have the lowest batting average in the
majors, haven't given him much run support. In 10 starts, he's 1-4
with a 3.20 ERA.
Tallet hasn't pitched in the majors since 2003. He had elbow
surgery and began last season on the disabled list before working
his way up through the Indians' minor league system.
The 27-year-old was 3-2 with a 2.53 ERA in nine starts for the
Bisons. Tallet last appeared in a major league game on July 21,
2003, at Chicago.