CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians right-handed pitcher Danny Salazar is on the comeback trail to Major League Baseball and may very well take that next step tonight.
According to the Akron RubberDucks’ opponent for tonight’s game, the Erie SeaWolves, Salazar is expected to make his second rehab start for the Indians’ Double-A affiliate.
After working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery during an extended spring training in Arizona, Salazar made his first rehabilitation start with the RubberDucks last week, where he allowed one earned run, a walk and two hits against two strikeouts over his 2.2 innings of work against the Bowie Baysox, the Baltimore Orioles’ Double-A affiliate.
Salazar has not pitched for the Indians in nearly two seasons.
Salazar began the 2016 season with a 10-3 record and 2.75 earned run average in 17 starts, which was good enough to earn him selection to the American League All-Star team, but struggled after first experiencing elbow discomfort in July.
Following a return from the All-Star break and a stint on the disabled list in August, Salazar went 1-3 with a 7.44 ERA in eight starts. Over 32.2 innings of work, Salazar allowed 44 hits, 29 runs, 27 of which were earned, and seven home runs with 17 walks against 43 strikeouts.
After missing much of the last two months of the 2016 regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs, Salazar worked three innings in two World Series appearances, surrendering one hit and two walks against four strikeouts and did not allow an earned run.
During the 2017 season, Salazar posted a 5-6 record and 4.28 earned run average in 23 games, including 19 starts. Over 103 innings of work, Salazar allowed 94 hits, 49 earned runs, 14 home runs and 44 walks, but struck out 145 batters.
Salazar made one appearance out of the bullpen against the New York Yankees in the 2017 American League Division Series. Salazar allowed one unearned run and two walks against three strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched.
Over his five seasons with the Indians, Salazar has posted a 38-33 record (.535 winning percentage) with a 3.82 earned run average over 108 games, including 104 starts. In 587.1 innings pitched, Salazar has 686 career strikeouts against 210 walks, 532 hits and 249 earned runs allowed.
