CLEVELAND _ Andrew Miller is headed back to the disabled list, this time with a shoulder issue.
Miller was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday with a left shoulder external impingement. It marks his third stint on the disabled list this season _ he was sidelined in April with a strained hamstring and then again in July with right knee inflammation.
According to manager Terry Francona, Miller came to the team on Tuesday speaking of some discomfort, and a scan found some swelling in his bursa sac. He then received a cortisone shot.
"They injected it and that will hopefully knock it right out," Francona said. "It was the right thing to do for him. We've talked about it before, even when it's maybe not convenient, you need to do the right thing. Andrew is going to pitch for a long time and he's carried such a big load for us that we need to look out for him a little bit, too."
As a result of the cortisone shot, Miller will be down four to five days before being ramped back up. By the time he is able to return, rosters will have expanded, so the construction of the bullpen won't be as much of a concern.
Miller's season has waned far from the expected path, but his readiness for October has always been the primary goal and the club's main focus. As of now, it is thought he should have time to return to health before the postseason.
"I mean, sometimes things happen, so you just do the best you can," Francona said. "He's not going to quit and we're not going to quit, either. You make adjustments when you have to. ... Once we get to Sept. 1, we're just going to go off of Andrew. We're going to do what's right by him."
Miller has logged only 24 innings this season between his injuries, with a 3.38 ERA, 3.20 FIP and 33 strikeouts.
In his place, the Indians recalled left-hander Tyler Olson from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday. Olson, who has struggled to a 6.75 ERA and 4.25 FIP in 20 innings this season, tried to pitch through some discomfort earlier in the season and eventually landed on the disabled list with a left latissimus dorsi strain. His last stretch with the Indians included two scoreless innings, one hit allowed and three strikeouts.
"When he came back with us last time, he threw the ball really well," Francona said. "It's nice to have a familiar face that comes up and will slip right into the bullpen. ...
"It's still nice to have him back because we know what he can do and we know what kind of kid he is, what kind of teammate he is, how much he cares."
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