Cleveland Indians vs. Texas Rangers, May 25, 2015

Shaun Marcum didn't have enough good outings to overcome rough nights like his two-inning, six-run stint Wednesday against the Cubs.

(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cubs' 17-0 bludgeoning of the Indians on Wednesday left quite an aftermath for the Tribe from a roster standpoint.

Needing help for a bullpen that covered seven innings a night earlier, the club promoted relievers Kyle Crockett and Jeff Manship to the big league roster. To clear the necessary roster space, the Indians designated pitcher Shaun Marcum for assignment and optioned utility player Zach Walters to Triple-A Columbus.

Marcum started Wednesday's lopsided affair, but he departed after two innings. He surrendered six runs, as Chicago proceeded to register a 17-0 triumph.

"I wasn't throwing anything where I wanted to," he said. "It was just one of those things where if I try to throw it in I missed away, if I tried to throw it away I missed in. It just wasn't a good day all around."

Marcum went 3-2 with a 6.00 ERA in six starts with the Tribe. He walked eight and struck out 26 in 30 innings. He limited the opposition to a .309 on-base percentage, but served up eight home runs.

The Indians used nine pitchers -- including outfielders Ryan Raburn and David Murphy -- on Wednesday, so the call for extra relief help is no surprise.

"You kind of know when you have a night like that, there's potential for that," said manager Terry Francona. "There's always the potential that that could happen. That's why you probably try to be a little bit patient with the starter hoping he can reel it in. Losing the game is tough, but when you have to make roster moves on top of it, it doesn't help."

Crockett posted a 5.91 ERA in 21 1/3 innings with the Clippers, though he allowed 10 of his 14 earned runs in his first 5 1/3 frames.

"Lately, he's been better," Francona said. "When he first got down there, by his own admission he kind of got roughed up -- and it's probably the first time its ever happened -- and kind of second-guessed some things and tried to do some things different, but he's working back toward what he does. Again, we needed some pitching, and he'll throw strikes."

Manship owns a 6.46 ERA in 72 career big-league outings with the Twins, Rockies and Phillies. He logged a 1.99 ERA with nine walks and 31 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings with Columbus.

Walters, who has routinely ventured north and south on I-71 this season, has collected four hits in 27 at-bats with the Indians. With Francisco Lindor and Giovanny Urshela occupying the left side of the infield, the club can deploy Mike Aviles in his typical utility role.

With Marcum off of the active roster, the club will need a new fifth starter. Francona said the club will announce the addition on Friday. That pitcher will toe the rubber on Sunday and Trevor Bauer will be pushed back until Monday's series opener against the Tigers. Jhoulys Chacin, who compiled a 3.21 ERA in seven starts with Columbus, opted out of his contract on Thursday.

Cody Anderson, who is on the 40-man roster, owns a 2.33 ERA in three starts since a promotion to Triple-A. Michael Roth (5-2, 3.28 ERA) and Toru Murata (5-2, 2.93 ERA) are not on the 40-man roster, which is at capacity. TJ House landed on the 7-day minor league disabled list on June 10 (retroactive to June 8) because of shoulder soreness. He was sidelined earlier this season because of inflammation in the shoulder.