INDIANAPOLIS – He’s not sure when his next start will be, but Steven Brault appears to be finished with his rehab.
Brault was sitting in the Indianapolis clubhouse after Friday’s game, after making his first rehab start with West Virginia earlier this week. Brault said he has not been told by the team when he may pitch again, but feels physically fine to pitch at the Triple-A level.
“I feel like I’m 100 percent and ready to go,” Brault said.
Brault allowed just one hit and struck out five in a four-inning outing with West Virginia on Monday. He threw 40 of his 53 pitches for a strike. Abigail Miskowiec had a full report of the start here.
“Mostly it was that the slider is more of a feel pitch,” Brault said. “It takes a little more to get that back. By the third or fourth inning it was there, so my command was a lot better than I thought it was going to be.”
He hurt his hamstring while running to first base as a hitter. Brault started six games prior to his injury, compiling a 2.70 ERA.
Brault was scheduled to make a second start with West Virginia on Saturday, but it’s possible that could occur with the Indians instead, though nothing is confirmed. Chad Kuhl is still listed as the Indians’ starter for Saturday, but he’s in Pittsburgh and is a likely spot starter for the Pirates on Sunday. That would leave Indianapolis without a starter on Saturday, allowing Brault to slide right in. And since Kuhl hasn’t been officially announced for Pittsburgh, it would explain why there’s nothing official for Brault yet. Regardless of when the start comes, it’s good to see the lefty healthy, and back in Indianapolis.
