CLEVELAND – Jayson Nix, not Andy Marte, will replace Jhonny Peralta as the Indians’ starting third baseman.

“Jayson Nix is going to get the first shot,” said manager Manny Acta. “We got some good production from him at second base. Andy is going to get some starts over there, too. (Luis) Valbuena will be there to back them up, but Nix is going to get the majority of the playing time right now.”

Nix, who was claimed off waivers from the White Sox, played third base on a limited basis for Chicago the past two seasons, making eight starts in 2009 and 12 this year. He entered Thursday hitting .255 (24-for-94) with six home runs and 12 RBIs in 24 games for Cleveland.

Marte appeared to be the obvious replacement for Peralta, serving as his back up for the majority of the season. But he has struggled offensively, batting just .198 (17-for-86) with three homers and 12 RBIs in 40 games.

Valbuena, Cleveland’s opening day starter at second base, has been playing third sporadically since being demoted to Columbus. He found his hitting stroke with the Clippers, hitting .313 (30-for-96) with six homers and 20 RBIs in 25 games after being optioned.

“He ends up being a utility infielder,” Acta said. “He’s going to have to earn his job back.”

Columbus’ Jared Goedert, who entered Thursday with 24 homers and 68 RBIs in 90 games for the Clippers and Double-A Akron, is also an option at third in the future.

“I think we’re probably going to take a look at him later on, but that probably won’t be until September,” Acta said. “Right now the kid is developing down there. We don’t want to interrupt that. We have to take a look at these guys right now to see if they could be alternatives for next year.”

If the Indians aren’t happy with any of the alternatives, they might shop for a third baseman in the offseason.

“First, we have to see what (Nix, Marte and Valbuena) are going to be,” Acta said. “Step two is to take a look at Goedert. No. 3, take a look at the market and see if we can make a move outside the organization.”

 

Bad rap?

Jhonny Peralta endured plenty of criticism before being traded to the Tigers on Wednesday, but Acta saw a different side.

“He led this team in doubles (23) and was second in RBIs (43),” Acta said. “The expectations that were always placed on Jhonny were pretty high. Not being able to take the inside pitch to the opposite field hurt him a little bit. But he did his part. He never complained and worked very hard and played well defensively for us.”

 

Trade talk

Acta isn’t predicting much activity from his club as Saturday’s trading deadline approaches.

“I don’t think we are a team that’s loaded with guys in that type of situation,” he said. “All we have is a bunch of kids up here. We don’t have a bunch of veterans that we have to move.”

Veterans Jake Westbrook, Kerry Wood and Austin Kearns appear to be the most likely candidates to be dealt.

 

Not again

Travis Hafner was scratched from the lineup with right shoulder soreness, the same shoulder that has plagued him since 2008.

Hafner, who is hitting .449 (13-for-29) with a home run and four RBIs over his last eight games, was replaced by Shelley Duncan at designated hitter.

 

Wood’s world

Wood (blister right index finger) pitched a perfect inning in a rehab outing for Akron on Thursday, throwing all eight of his pitches for strikes.

The right-hander will be re-evaluated today, and if all is well, he is expected to be activated during a three-game series in Toronto, which begins tonight.    

 

Next up

Justin Masterson (3-9, 5.19 ERA) opens the set for Cleveland against Toronto, opposing RHP Shaun Marcum (9-4, 3.36), while Jake Westbrook (6-7, 4.65) starts Saturday (1:07 p.m.) against LHP Brett Cecil (8-5, 3.89).

Josh Tomlin (1-0, 1.29) pitches the series finale Sunday (1:07 p.m.), the Blue Jays countering with RHP Jesse Litsch (1-4, 5.48).

 

Minor detail

Matt McBride was promoted to Columbus after batting .285 with 17 homers and 64 RBIs in 94 games for Akron. McBride, a sandwich draft pick between the second and third rounds in 2006, hit 13 homers and drove in 32 runs over his last 26 games with the Aeros. His 17 homers with Akron rank fourth in the Eastern League.

 

Roundin’ third

Shin-Soo Choo entered Thursday batting .455 (10-for-22) with five doubles and three RBIs in six games since being activated from the disabled list. … Cleveland’s pitching staff had allowed three earned runs or fewer in 20 of the last 28 games through Wednesday. … Tonight, 7:07, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM.

 

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.