Guardians All-Star day-to-day with back injury; switch-hitter recalled as utility man sent down

The Guardians were able to at least keep Freeman in the organization because he had options. On September 8, they were forced to designate right-hander Scott Barlow for assignment.

Freeman and Barlow have been with the Guardians since opening day. They are close to securing a postseason spot and possibly a division title. But they are doing it without them.

“It was a tough night,” Vogt said before Saturday’s game. “It’s never fun sending someone to Triple-A. Tyler’s been with us all year. He’s done everything we asked him to do — different positions, different spots in the order.

“But with Kwanie playing day in and day out now, we needed another outfielder. Angel gives us a switch-hitter. We just felt like we had to make that move. But again, the guy’s been with us for 5 1/2 months and we’re sending him right before the end of the year. That makes it even more painful.

“We love Free. Hopefully he can get his bat going and then we’ll see what happens.”

Freeman, who was hitting .209 (69 for 330), has played little in recent weeks, largely because Lane Thomas took over the center field role, Will Brennan and Jhonkesny Noel were in right field and Daniel Schneemann handled the remaining at-bats.

Vogt said other players were hitting the bat better than Freeman and that he talked to Freeman about his situation all the time.

“Free handled it like a professional,” Vogt said.

What’s wrong with Kwan?

Kwan was ruled out of the game Friday due to stiffness in his back. The Gold Glover underwent an MRI and Vogt said it was clear.

He was not in the lineup on Saturday, as Martinez replaced him at left field and the leadoff position.

“He had some stiffness and tightness in his mid to lower back,” Vogt said when asked about Kwan. “The scan was good, but he’s still pretty stiff. We’re just going to take it day by day so it doesn’t get too bad.”

According to Vogt, the injury has nothing to do with the left hamstring injury that kept Kwan on the injured list from May 5 to May 30.

“It happened the other night on a specific play where I felt it,” he said. “He communicated with us wonderfully.”

Kwan entered the All-Star break batting .352 (99-281) with nine homers and 27 RBI. He is hitting .201 (39-194) with four homers and 16 RBI since the break.

Blister update

Alex Cobb said not being able to help the Guardians clinch a playoff spot “kills” him.

The right-handed pitcher has been on the IL twice since being acquired from the Giants at the July 30 deadline. The first time was because of a torn nail on the index finger of his right hand. He returned to the IL Monday with a blister on the middle finger of his right hand.

“We thought we had the blister under control in Los Angeles,” Cobb said. “But it popped and a blood blister formed underneath. They took it out with a scalpel, but it still hurt when I tried to throw.”

When Cobb and the Guardians returned to Cleveland on Thursday, he visited another doctor.

“He found that there was still a portion of the blood blister in the finger,” Cobb said. “He removed it with a needle. It’s better now.”

If nothing else goes wrong, Cobb could return in time to make a start or two before the end of the regular season. Those could be big starts if the Guardians haven’t yet clinched a postseason spot.

Finally

Carlos Carrasco on how he felt after his rehab start for Class AA Akron on Friday: “I felt good, brother.”

Carrasco has been on the IL since August 8 with a strained left hip. In three innings against Hartford, Carrasco allowed two runs on three hits. He struck out and allowed three hits on 41 pitches. The Guardians are trying to figure out how to use Carrasco for the final two weeks of the regular season and beyond if they reach the postseason.