T.J. House

TJ House took the loss on Sunday in the Triple-A clash vs. Toledo Mud Hens. He allowed six runs (two earned) on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Fantasy Impact

With Carlos Carrasco on the DL, Trevor Bauer struggling as a starter and Cody Anderson pulled from his last start with leg cramps, there is likely to be an opening in the Indians' rotation. TJ House is not helping his cause, having given up 12 runs (8 earned) in his last two starts. He has walked six and only lasted a total of 5 1/3 innings. If the Indians need to call up a starter, perhaps Ryan Merritt or Mike Clevinger are positioning themselves as favorites.

The Indians' fifth starter competition narrowed to two (Cody Anderson and Josh Tomlin) yesterday with the optioning of LHP TJ House to Triple-A.

Fantasy Impact

TJ House will likely bring his groundball-inducing repertoire back to the majors sometime in 2016. The competition for the final starter job is heating up with Cody Anderson displaying increased velocity and an improving spike curveball. He still has options, so the easy decision will be to start him in the minors. Josh Tomlin was a revelation in the rotation last year, with a 0.84 WHIP over 64 innings. He could be shifted to a long-relief role in the bullpen if the Indians decide to keep both pitchers on the Major League roster.

LHP TJ House allowed three hits and issued one walk over four scoreless innings vs. Mariners on Sunday.

Fantasy Impact

As a left-handed, groundball pitcher, TJ House offers something different to the rest of the Indians' starters. He will start the season in Triple-A and if he can recapture the form he showed in 2014 (3.35 ERA over 18 starts), then the 26-year-old could have mixed-league value again.

Indians' starting pitcher TJ House struck out one over two hitless innings of Cactus League play on Saturday.

Fantasy Impact

TJ House had a great stint in the big leagues in 2014 with 80 strikeouts and a 3.35 ERA over 102 innings. His potential to be a valuable sleeper was destroyed last year with a 13.15 ERA over 4 starts, before spending the rest of the season on the DL and in the minors. The 26-year-old will start in Triple-A in 2016 having slipped behind Josh Tomlin and Cody Anderson. When House does finally get opportunities to start, expect a lot of groundballs (career 61 GB%) and about 7 SO/9.

Indians' manager Terry Francona announced that LHP TJ House will need a couple more weeks of rest before he starts throwing.

Fantasy Impact

TJ House is currently on the Minor League 7-Day DL with a shoulder issue. He struggled in the Majors this season with a 13.15 ERA over four starts. He will be out-of-options at the end of the season, so will need to rediscover the form that saw him post a 3.35 ERA over 102 innings in 2014, if he is to have a future with the Indians. Although Cody Anderson has pitched well as the Indians' 5th starter, there will undoubtedly be opportunities for House to rejoin the rotation later in the season.