:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63719722/usa_today_12594702.0.jpg)
UPDATE: Indians ace Corey Kluber has a non-displaced fracture of his right ulna after being hit in the elbow following a line drive during Wednesday’s game against the Marlins, the club announced.
Initial X-rays on Corey Kluber revealed a non-displaced fracture of his right ulna.
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) May 2, 2019
Corey will be reevaluated tomorrow in Cleveland to confirm and assess timetable. pic.twitter.com/14FpTv84Y2
The news came after the game, which ended with a 4-2 loss for the Indians. Kluber will be re-evaluated in Cleveland on Thursday to confirm the diagnosis and determine a timetable.
ORIGINAL
Indians ace Corey Kluber has a right forearm contusion after being hit in the elbow following a line drive during Wednesday’s game against the Marlins, the club announced.
Indians announce right forearm contusion for Kluber. He's being X-rayed on site here at Marlins Park.
— Joe Noga (@JoeNogaCLE) May 2, 2019
As Noga of Cleveland.com points out, Kluber is currently undergoing an X-ray at the ballpark to see if there is any further damage to his pitching arm.
Kluber took a 102 mph hit off the bat of Marlins right fielder Brian Anderson with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Given the amount of pain he was probably feeling at that point, the 33-year-old still tried fielding the ball after being hit, as shown below by FOX SportsTime Ohio.
Here's the play of Corey Kluber getting hit in the arm by a line drive. Kluber has left the game and we will pass along any updates. pic.twitter.com/WE55U3p9sU
— SportsTime Ohio (@SportsTimeOhio) May 2, 2019
The Indians can’t afford to lose Kluber for any length of time.
Despite having a 2-2 record with a 5.81 ERA this season, Kluber is two-time AL Cy Young award winner and a three-time All-Star who has posted a 98-57 record with a 3.15 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings in nine seasons. Kluber has won 18 games or more in each of the last three seasons and four times in the last five campaigns, including a 20-win season last year. He has also been a workhorse for Cleveland, throwing over 203 innings in each of the last five seasons.
The Indians are already missing one starter in their rotation, as Mike Clevinger is out until June with a back injury. Missing two starters for long periods of time might impact their chances of repeating as AL Central champions for the fourth straight year. The Indians currently sit in second place at 16-12, trailing the Twins (17-10) by 1 1⁄2 games.