Indians place RHP Talbot on DL with back strain

TORONTO (AP) — The Cleveland Indians placed right-hander Mitch Talbot on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain Friday and optioned right-hander Jess Todd to Triple-A Columbus.

Cleveland also recalled right-hander Jensen Lewis and purchased the contract of righty Justin Germano from Columbus.

Talbot, who left in the third inning of Thursday’s 11-4 loss to New York, is 8-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts, while Todd had no record and a 7.50 ERA in five games since being promoted from Triple-A on July 19.

Lewis has had three prior stints with the Indians this season, going 2-2 with a 4.18 ERA in 22 relief appearances.

Germano, signed as a minor league free agent on March 4 after pitching in Japan last season, has split the season between Double-A Akron and Columbus, going 5-3 with a 3.38 ERA and one save in 24 games, including seven starts. He last pitched in the majors with San Diego in 2008.