CLEVELAND -- Given that left-handed relievers Andrew Miller and Boone Logan are on the disabled list, the Indians decided to bolster their bullpen on Saturday by purchasing the Minor League contract of Craig Breslow before their game against the Royals.
With Breslow's promotion to the Tribe's active roster, starter Ryan Merritt has been optioned to Triple-A Columbus and reliever Diego Moreno has been designated for assignment.
The Indians signed the left-handed Breslow to the Minor League deal Aug. 4 after he was designated for assignment by the Twins on July 24 and later released. Breslow posted a 5.23 ERA in 30 appearances this season with Minnesota, but most of the damage against the left-hander came while facing right-handed batters.
"I think out of necessity early, he was forced to maybe go one [inning]-plus a lot of times," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "It's nice to know that he can, but the reason he's here is hopefully to match up against some lefties. He's a veteran guy that's done it."
Known as a lefty specialist, Breslow held left-handed hitters to a slash line of .200/.279/.257 and surrendered eight runs, seven hits and four walks this season with the Twins. Right-handers hit .348/.404/.573 and scored 15 runs with 31 hits and eight walks against Breslow.
With Miller (10-day DL with right knee patellar tendinitis) and Logan (60-day DL with a lat strain) shelved, Breslow and Tyler Olson are now the two left-handers in the Tribe's eight-man bullpen.
"We're so pleased with what Olson's done," Francona said. "But when he's the only [left-hander] out there, it's not always a perfect situation ... We just don't want to hurt him or, not just hurt him, but have his production tail off because we're using him too much."
In seven outings with Triple-A Columbus since signing with the Indians, Breslow allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings for a 3.86 ERA. The 37-year-old limited left-handed batters to a .083 (1-for-12) average and didn't allow a run over his last six games with the Clippers.