Cleveland Indians acquire Drake from Milwaukee Brewers for $110,000
MILWAUKEE -- The revolving door of Cleveland's bullpen took a turn for the fourth straight day when the Indians acquired reliever Oliver Drake from the Milwaukee Brewers for $110,000.
Andrew Miller has not pitched since April 25 because of a strained left hamstring and will not come off the disabled list Sunday, the first day he is eligible.
Cleveland entered Saturday with a 5.11 bullpen ERA, 28th among the 30 teams and ahead of only Minnesota (5.67) and Kansas City (6.07). Indians relievers are 3-8, a big factor in the Indians' 17-15 record. Cleveland has not found a reliable replacement for Bryan Shaw, who pitched in more than 70 games in each of the last three seasons, then left as a free agent for a $27 million, three-year contract with Colorado.
Ben Taylor was brought up from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday, when Matt Belisle was designated for assignment, and Ben Taylor was promoted to the big leagues on Thursday, when Nick Goody went on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation.
Alexi Ogando came up on Friday, when Jeff Beliveau was designated for assignment. Ogando made his first big league appearance in two years and gave up a leadoff double in the ninth inning to the New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton, who scored the winning run on Miguel Andujar's single off closer Cody Allen.
Drake, a 31-year-old right-hander is 1-0 with a 6.39 ERA in 11 games this year. He has 15 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings.
Among three U.S. Naval Academy players to reach the major leagues, Drake was designated for assignment Tuesday.
For his career, Drake is 5-5 with a 4.49 ERA in 102 relief appearances for Baltimore (2015-17) and Milwaukee (2017-18).