Cleveland Indians: Jeremy Sowers to Start Saturday against Yanks

According to the Cleveland Indians' web site, Jeremy Sowers will be called up from Class AAA Buffalo to start for the Tribe against the Yankees on Saturday.

The Indians needed to fill the spot in the rotation left by Jake Westbrook when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Sowers is 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA at Buffalo this season. He has allowed only one home run.

The Indians web site speculated yesterday that the rotation spot would come down to either Sowers or Aaron Laffey. Laffey is 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA this season and has allowed only one home run.

"We had different reasons that we looked at for choosing Jeremy," Indians manager Eric Wedge told MLB.com. "But we would have been comfortable choosing either one of those guys."

Wedge did not name any of the reasons for promoting Sowers.

Laffey was crucial to the Indians during the stretch run last September, but the site reports the Indians were pleased with Sowers' spot performance against the Mariners at the end of last season.

In that start, Sowers pitched five innings, allowing two walks and zero runs. He recorded five strikeouts.

The club is hopeful Sowers does what Cliff Lee is doing by turning a down season last year into quality starts now.

Sowers will square off against Yankees southpaw Ian Kennedy (0-2, 9.64 ERA).

Sowers faced the Yankees last year giving up six earned runs in two-and-two-thirds innings.

Sowers' promotion will probably mean a short stay in the show for Ben Francisco. The web site said he is the player expected to be sent down. Francisco joined the Indians Tuesday when Westbrook was placed on the DL.

"There's always possibilities," Wedge told MLB.com, "but there's [no other move] we're seriously considering right now. I told Benny it's more than likely just a couple days."

On the Web - www.indians.com
photo: Mike Cardew/ Akron Beacon Journal