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Indians right-hander Zach McAllister will start against the Angels on Wednesday on three days rest.

(Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Want a clue about how badly the Indians didn't want to see

start Wednesday against the Angels?

So much so that they're going to start

on three days rest for the first time in his career and put Carrasco in the bullpen. This will be Carrasco's second trip to the bullpen and it sounds like he'll be staying there for a while.

The Indians will need another starter during the upcoming homestand. The scheduled date for his first start will be May 6 against the Twins.

or

are the leading candidates to replace Carrasco.

"Zach threw 75 pitches in his last outing (Saturday) so he's in good shape to go Wednesday," said manager Terry Francona. "We put Carlos in the bullpen; that way, we fortify the bullpen. Hopefully, we'll get him on a roll and he can help us out there.

"In talking with Mickey (pitching coach Mickey Callaway)i and Chris (Antonetti, general manager), we want to keep our starters on the fifth day right now. They're starting to get a little rhythm."

McAllister allowed four runs on five hits in five innings in a 5-3 loss to the Giants on Saturday. He struck out six, walked one and threw 53 of his 75 pitches for strikes.

Francona said he talked to McAllister at length to make sure he was all right on pitching on short rest.

"Saturday was a shorter outing for me as far as pitch count goes," said McAllister. "So I was able to bounce back and feel good."

McAllister threw his bullpen session before Monday night's game.

"It's not a problem for me at all," said McAllister, 3-1, 3.14 ERA. "I have no issue with it at all."

McAllister guessed he'd pitched on three days rest before, but said, "Off the top of my head, I don't know."

A check of baseball-reference.com showed McAllister has not pitched on three day's rest. In a five-man rotation, pitchers usually start on four or more days rest.

Carrasco's last start came Friday in a 5-1 loss to the Giants. He allowed four runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out six, walked one and told reporters after the game that the mechanical adjustments he had made with Callaway during the offseason weren't working.

morning to clear the air. Now Carrasco is in the pen.

Carrasco beat Tomlin for the last spot in the rotation in spring training. The Indians said he was guaranteed a spot on the club, whether it was as a starter or reliever, because he was out of options.

In four starts this season, Carrasco is 0-3 with a 6.94 ERA. He has not won a game as a starter since June 29, 2011. He is 0-12 with a 8.09 ERA in 12 starts since then.

Tomlin and Bauer are pitching well at Class AAA Columbus.

Bauer, who has already made a spot start with the Tribe, is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA in four starts at Columbus. He's struck out 28, walked seven and allowed 18 hits and four earned runs in 25 2/3 innings.

to San Diego in the second game of a doubleheader. In six innings, he allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks. He struck out eight.

Tomlin is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in four starts. He's struck out 18, walked nine and allowed

eight earned runs on 19 hits in 26 innings.