Corey Kluber shut down after injury

Cleveland Indians pitcher Corey Kluber suffered an injury during a rehab start and will be shut down from throwing for two weeks.

Well this is not the news that the Cleveland Indians wanted to hear. Corey Kluber suffered an injury during his rehab start with the Columbus Clippers. Kluber has been out since May 1st after taking a line drive off his throwing arm against the Miami Marlins.

An internal oblique strain is not great for a pitcher, especially one who is working his way back to the big leagues. Corey Kluber already struggled earlier this season and if he returns this season may not be anything remotely close to what he would have been prior to this injury. Kluber appeared ready to make a late-August return before suffering this injury. Kluber will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

An oblique injury at this point in the season will linger on until after the season is over. Pitchers who are not right in the midsection simply are not the same. A perfect example is former Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. It took him a long time after his core injury to return to being his dominant self. Kluber’s injury is not the same as Verlander’s but the point is the same. It takes a while to return after that type of injury.

The good news is that Cleveland has not necessarily needed Corey Kluber up to this point. The rotation of Shane Bieber, Mike Clevinger and co. has held their own and got the team back in the hunt. If Kluber returns he will not need to be the two-time Cy Young Award winner. They would have only needed him to be a third/fourth starter at best. For now Cleveland will have to continue as if Kluber will not be an option and rely on the starters who have been workhorses up to this point.