With closer Brad Hand's status uncertain for the stretch run, the Cleveland Indians find themselves in need of bullpen help.
So on Thursday, the team took one of the few avenues it has left to add just that at this point in the season, calling up reliever James Karinchak from Triple-A Columbus, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com.
Selected in the ninth round of the 2017 MLB Draft, the 23-year-old Karinchak has emerged as one of the top relief pitching prospects in the Indians' organization this season. Over the course of 30.1 innings in 30 games between the Arizona League, Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, the right-hander has struck out 74 batters -- good for 81 percent of his outs on the year.
In that same span, he's allowed a total of 16 hits, 9 earned runs and 8 saves while posting a 2.67 ERA.
In coming to Cleveland, Karinchak will look to bolster an Indians bullpen that has been one of the best in baseball this season, laying claim to a league-high 3.54 ERA. The uncertainty to of Hand -- who is likely to miss this weekend's series vs. the Minnesota Twins after undergoing an MRI on his left arm -- however, has left manager Terry Francona to consider all of his options as the Indians make their final push to secure a fourth straight postseason appearance.
Earning his third consecutive All-Star appearance, Hand has amassed a 6-4 record and 34 saves in 59 appearances to go along with a 3.36 ERA and 81 strikeouts. His effectiveness in the second half of the season, however, had slipped as he compiled a 5.68 ERA since the All-Star break.
Coming off a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland enters its final series with the Twins this season trailing Minnesota by four games. The Indians currently trail the Tampa Bay Rays by one game and the Oakland Athletics by a half-game in the American League Wild Card race.
