Chris Perez Out 4-6 Weeks with Strained Oblique

The Cleveland Indians have announced that closer Chris Perez is going to be sidelined for the next four-to-six weeks due to a strained oblique.  Despite the injury, the Indians remain optimistic that Perez will be ready to go by the time Opening Day rolls around.

The spring has only just started and already we see the return of the infamous strained oblique.  Initially, it appeared that an outbreak of lower back soreness was on the horizon, but the oblique still has my vote to reclaim the title of largest problem muscle this season.

Back to Perez.

While Cleveland is thinking positive regarding the right-hander’s ailment, obliques can be tricky injuries.  Depending on the degree of the strain, players can be affected by an oblique injury for extended periods of time.

At this point the Indians are hoping Perez can begin game-action before the end of Spring Training.  One thing Cleveland’s head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff said is on Perez’s side is that he’s a reliever.  Where this injury could significantly setback a starting pitcher, the right-hander will not be required to build up a large innings total as reliever.

The 26-year-old was slotted in as the Indian’s finisher after a successful 2011 campaign.  Last season for the Tribe Perez compiled 36 saves over his 65 appearances spanning 59 2/3 innings.  During that time Perez maintained an ERA and WHIP of 3.32 and 1.207 with 5.9 SO/9 and 3.9 BB/9.

If Perez is unable to start the regular season with the Indians, setup men Tony Sipp and Vinnie Pestano figure to get a crack at Cleveland’s closer role.  While each was impressive last season, the duo’s only combined to save four games at the major league level.

For more on the Indians, be sure to check out Wahoo’s on First.

You can follow Call to the Pen on Twitter at @FSCalltothePen or like us here on Facebook.