Indians P Chris Perez Diagnosed with Rotator Cuff Tendinitis

After three straight miserable outings resulted in Chris Perez being placed on the disabled list, there is finally some clarity to his injury situation.

Perez was diagnosed Tuesday with rotator cuff tendinitis in his right (throwing) shoulder after undergoing an MRI on Monday. The Indians placed Perez on the 15-day DL on Monday following the aforementioned treacherous run on the mound, but it wasn’t clear as to what specific injury had occurred.

Perez’s throwing program will reportedly be shut down for at least five days, and after that point, he will be re-evaluated by doctors to assess potential healing. This news does not come as a shock to the Indians (who had the foresight to DL him a day earlier) or his fantasy owners, as Perez has struggled mightily in the early going (4.32 ERA, 5.40 BB/9), and seemed to be visibly laboring in Sunday’s outing (in which he blew a three-run lead).

Vinnie Pestano will claim the closer’s role in Perez’s absence, and while Pestano has also struggled in 2013 (5.25 ERA, 5.25 BB/9), he has a career ERA of 2.72 and the electric “stuff” that any manager would want in a closer.

It will be interesting to see how Pestano fares, but more importantly, how Perez heals in an effort to avoid any further DL time or a potential surgery. Stay tuned.