The Cleveland Indians have lost 29-year old lefty swinging outfielder Shin- Soo Choo for the rest of the year due to an oblique muscle.  Choo played in 85 games this year for the Indians and he was 81 for 313 (.259 avg, .733 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 8 homers, 36 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  Choo now played in 530 games in his first six years with the Indians and he is 567 for 1,926 (.294 avg, .865 OPS) with 301 runs scored, 67 homers, 306 RBIs and 64 stolen bases.  Hopefully 2012 will be much better for Choo as he will start it with a clean slate.

24-year old righty starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco is undergoing Tommy John Surgery next Wednesday in New York.  He will miss the rest of this year and probably the whole 2012 season for the Indians.  Carrasco pitched in 21 games (all starts) for the Indians last year and he was 8-9 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Indians in his first three years with the team and he is 10-15 with a 4.93 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.  This is going to hurt the Indians in 2012 as Carrasco was going to be a part of the starting rotation.

The Indians have placed starting RF Shin-Soo Choo on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 28th, with a strained left oblique.  Choo has played in 84 games for the Indians this year and he is 81 for 312 (.260 avg, .736 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 8 homers, 36 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  This has been a lost year for Choo due to injuries and off the field problems (DUI).  Still, the Indians would have a much better chance of running down the Tigers in the A.L. Central with him rather than without him.

The Indians have placed 26-year old righty starting pitcher Josh Tomlin on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 25th due to right elbow soreness.  Tomlin has pitched in 26 games (all starts) for the Indians so far this year and he is 12-7 with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.  The Indians have called up 25-year old lefty reliever Nick Hagadone to replace Tomlin on the pitching staff.  Hagadone came into this season as the Indians’ #10 prospect according to Baseball America.  He can over in the Victor Martinez deal with the Red Sox a couple of years ago.  Hagadone has pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year and he is 6-4 with 4 saves, a 2.65 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.  He has only given up 54 hits in 68 innings in the minors this year while whiffing 74 batters, as he has been impressive in the minors so far this year.  Hagadone has now pitched in 103 games (47 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 10-14 with 5 saves, a 2.82 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.  Hagadone will be working out of the bullpen for the Indians.

The Indians have placed 24-year old lefty swinging outfielder Michael Brantley on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 23rd due to right wrist inflammation.  Brantley has played in 114 games for the Indians so far this year and he is 120 for 451 (.266 avg, .702 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 7 homers, 46 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.  24-year old lefty swinging Ezequiel Carrera will likely replace Brantley in the starting lineup until he’s ready to return to action.  Carrera has played in 39 games for the Tribe so far this year and he is 29 for 107 (.271 avg, .649 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 0 homers, 8 RBIs and 7 stolen bases.  The Indians hope Brantley gets healthy soon, because they need him.

UPDATE:  (8/29/2011) – Michael Brantley will undergo season ending surgery on his wrist this week.  This is a big blow to the Indians.