Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports The Indians have optioned left-handed starter David Huff to their Triple-A affiliate in Columbus, as Chris Pokorny mentioned might be the case this morning on The Hit List. From Castrovince:
Huff was 2-9 with a 6.04 ERA in 13 starts this season. His nine losses lead the American League. His most recent outing saw him roughed up for five runs on six hits with six walks and two strikeouts in five innings against the Pirates on Saturday.
It hasn't all been bleak for the 25-year-old Huff this season. There was his complete-game gem against the Rangers on April 15, when he allowed just a pair of runs on four hits. But since that time, Huff has gone 1-8 with a 7.20 ERA, allowing 47 runs on 78 hits over 55 innings.
"If you look at the last 11 starts, he hasn't been very good," manager Manny Acta said Sunday. "It's kind of mind-boggling because David has the stuff to pitch effectively up here. I really believe in his stuff."
No word yet on with whom the Indians will fill Huff's major-league roster spot, though Castrovince says the two most likely candidates are Carlos Carrasco (one of the prospects acquired in the Cliff Lee trade) and Aaron Laffey. Both are starting pitchers.