CLEVELAND — Grady Sizemore was at Progressive Field on Saturday. He wasn’t activated from the disabled list, but that is expected to come soon — real soon.
Manager Manny Acta said Sizemore, who is bidding to return from microfracture surgery on his left knee, will be examined today in Cleveland. If he receives medical clearance, Sizemore could be activated as early as Monday.
“We’re going to have to gauge how he is physically, but he’ll be activated soon,” Acta said of Sizemore, who worked out prior to the Indians’ second game of the series with Baltimore.
Asked if he could rule out Sizemore returning for the series opener at Kansas City on Monday, Acta said, “I can’t rule out anything. I don’t know when it will be, but it will be soon.”
Sizemore has been sidelined since May 16 of last year, playing in his first exhibition game March 20 and playing center field for the first time March 22. He has been on a minor league rehab assignment for five games — batting .353 (6-for-17) with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs for Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron.
Sizemore predicted he would be ready to return before May and told reporters Saturday that he was prepared to meet that deadline now. He expects the Indians to continue to take a cautious path with him.
“I think they’ll be very very careful,” Sizemore said. “I don’t imagine I’m going to go out there and play seven games in seven days the first week. I don’t see them throwing me out there for six or seven days in a row. I think they’re going to take it easy on me.”
Acta would not say where Sizemore would bat in the order, but he is expected to replace Michael Brantley in the leadoff spot. Brantley has been filling in for Sizemore in center and will shift to left field upon Sizemore’s return.
“It’s tough, because the team is swinging real well right now,” Sizemore said. “Manny knows I’m good with whatever, whether it’s leadoff or anywhere else. They’re going to sit down and figure out what’s best for the team.”
Wherever Sizemore ends up batting, Acta expects is a boost from the addition of the three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove award winner.
“Regardless of what type of lineup you have,” Acta said, “when you add Grady Sizemore to any lineup, any team in America, you’re adding to it. Is that an understatement?”
When Sizemore is activated, the Indians will have to make a corresponding move, dropping a player from their current 25-man roster. The most likely to go is outfielder Travis Buck, who still has minor league options.
Starting blocks
The Indians’ fast start to the season has caught many by surprise, but Acta saw it coming, even from a team that went 69-93 and struggled to stay out of the Central Division cellar last year.
“This is not a fluke, because we’ve played 2 1/2 months of good baseball,” Acta said. “That’s what we did in the second half of last season. We’ve just added on to that this year. So, that’s why it’s not surprising to me.”
The Indians went 35-39 in the second half last year, accounting for the third-best record in the division.
Bucking up
A new bat was big for Buck.
The struggling outfielder, who entered Saturday hitting just .136 (3-for-22) in seven games, switched to some new lumber and it paid off with a 3-for-4 performance in an 8-3 victory over the Orioles.
In the midst of Buck’s first three-hit game since 2009 was an RBI double in the Indians’ decisive four-run third inning.
Minor details
Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, who was one of the Indians’ most productive players at big league training camp, is off to a slow start for Columbus. Entering Saturday, Cleveland’s top prospect was batting just .235 (8-for-34) in nine games. He had displayed the power he showed this spring, with six of his eight hits going for extra bases. … Left fielder Tim Fedroff went 2-for-4 with his first homer in Akron’s 9-5 loss to Reading on Friday. Fedroff, a seventh-round draft pick in 2008, entered Saturday hitting .375 (9-for-24) in seven games. … Bo Greenwell went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI Friday in advanced Class A Kinston’s 5-3 loss to Winston-Salem. Greenwell, the son of former big league outfielder Mike Greenwell, was hitting .391 (9-for-23) with a homer and three RBIs in six games through Friday.
Roundin’ third
Shin-Soo Choo is picking up steam at the plate. He hit his second homer Saturday and has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, batting .345 (10-for-29) over the span. … Orlando Cabrera snapped an 0-for-16 skid with an RBI single in the third inning. … Today, 1:05, Channel 3/STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Carmona (0-2, 6.11) vs. Bergesen (0-1, 3.18).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
