White will make debut; Hafner out

CLEVELAND: As expected, the Indians will call up touted right-hander Alex White to start against the Tigers Saturday at Progressive Field.

White has made four starts in Columbus, where he is 1-0 with a 1.90 earned-run average. He has given 19 hits and five walks, striking out 28 in 23 2/3 innings.

""He'a throwing the ball very well down there,'' manager Manny Acta said this afternoon. ""We have good reports on him. We tell guys when they go down (during spring training) that when we need a guy, make sure it's you.''

White was the Tribe's first-round pick in the 2009 draft, the 15th overall choice. At 22, he has relatively little professional experience, having made eight starts last year at Kinston, before moving up to Akron, where he made 17 starts and appeared once out of the bullpen.

""He's a polished college guy,'' Acta said. ""He's not a high school or a junior college pitcher, and he's met every one of our expectations, including going from high A ball to Double-A last year.''

Less than an hour before tonight's game, Travis Hafner was scratched from the lineup with inflammation in his right ankle. He was noticeably limping after scoring in the first inning of Wednesday night's game, but no official explanation of the injury has been forthcoming yet.

Shelley Duncan took Hafner's place at designated hitter, batting fifth.