CLEVELAND – Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo will begin a minor league rehab assignment after all.
Though Indians manager Manny Acta didn’t think a rehab stint would be necessary, Choo, who is on the disabled list with a right thumb sprain, is scheduled to play for Double-A Akron tonight.
Cleveland’s media relations department said there has been no decision made on the length of the rehab assignment, but it is not expected to last long.
Choo has been sidelined since July 3 when he suffered the injury while attempting to make a diving catch in right field. He was eligible to leave the injured list Sunday.
Cleveland’s best overall player was en route to a productive season, batting .286 with a team-leading 13 home runs, 43 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 78 games.
Comings and goings
As was expected, the Indians promoted right-hander Jeanmar Gomez from Triple-A Columbus to start the series finale against Detroit.
Infielder Anderson Hernandez was designated for assignment to clear room for Gomez on the 25-man roster. Hernandez, a waiver claim from the Mets during spring training, hit .246 (15-for-61) with two RBIs in 22 games for Cleveland.
His departure appears to signal the impending return of shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who had played in five rehab games through Saturday. Cabrera went 1-for-4 Saturday, playing shortstop in Akron’s 6-5 victory over Erie.
Comeback trail
Right-hander Anthony Reyes began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Rookie League on Saturday, pitching two scoreless innings in a 5-2 win over the AZL Angels. He didn’t allow a hit, walked one and struck out four.
Reyes, 28, was a member of Cleveland’s rotation at the end of the 2008 season and the beginning of last year before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2009.
Home cooking
The Indians have reversed their fortunes at home as of late, winning nine of their last 11 games at Progressive Field to improve to 21-22 on the season.
Over the last 11 home games, Cleveland pitchers have posted a 1.76 ERA, while allowing just one home run over the last 13 games
(120 innings). The pitching staff entered Sunday with a 3.87 ERA at home compared to a 5.17 ERA on the road.
Next up
The Indians travel to Minnesota for a three-game series that begins tonight at 8:10.
Aaron Laffey (1-3, 5.12 ERA) opens the set for Cleveland, opposing RHP Scott Baker (7-8, 4.87), while Justin Masterson (3-8, 5.31) pitches Tuesday (8:10 p.m.) against RHP Kevin Slowey (8-5, 4.95).
Jake Westbrook (6-5, 4.67) goes for the Indians in the series finale (1:10 p.m.). The Twins will counter with LHP Francisco Liriano (7-7, 3.76).
Minor details
Right-handers Zach Putnam and Rob Bryson moved one step closer to the big leagues Sunday.
Putnam, a fifth-round draft choice in 2008, was promoted to Columbus after going 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA and three saves in 20 games (seven starts) for Akron.
Bryson, who was acquired in the CC Sabathia trade with Milwaukee in 2008, was promoted to Akron after going a combined 6-1 with a 2.97 ERA and one save in 21 games for advanced Class A Kinston and Single-A Lake County.
Roundin’ third
Cleveland has won 12 of its last 19 games.
• The Indians extended their streak of extra-base hits to 41 games, accounting for the longest streak in the American League and second-longest in the majors this season.
• The last time the Indians started the second half with a 4-0 record was in 1995, when Manny Ramirez hit a memorable walk-off homer off Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley to complete a four-game sweep of Oakland.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
