Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco is working his way back from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, and that journey continues with a rehabilitation assignment with the Akron Aeros at Class AA. The Indians front office will be watching Carrasco very closely for signs of good velocity and movement on his pitches, but the game has plenty of meaning for the members of the Aeros as well. Carrasco's start on Friday night marks an opportunity for the team to clinch the Eastern League Championship against the Trenton Thunder.

Akron leads the best-of-five series against Trenton 2-0, so all the team needs is one more victory to seal the deal and bring home the championship. Carrasco is just 25 years old and won't be arbitration eligible until 2014. He arrived in Cleveland as part of the trade that sent Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies on July 29, 2009.

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