CLEVELAND — The Indians don’t think it’s serious, but anything surrounding Grady Sizemore and an injury is cause for concern.
Sizemore, who has surged since leaving the disabled list in mid April, was not in the lineup Wednesday, leaving Progressive Field for an MRI on his right knee prior to the game.
Indians manager Manny Acta said Sizemore sustained the injury when he jammed his knee on a slide into the second base bag in the sixth inning of Cleveland’s 5-4 win Tuesday night.
“Grady banged his knee on second base,” said Acta of the three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove award winner, who remained in the game. “So he’s going out today, for some peace of mind, to get a picture (MRI) taken.
“He jammed it on the bag when he slid. Our medical staff doesn’t think it’s anything serious. For his peace of mind, and today is a good day to give him a day off against a left-handed pitcher (David Price), we’re just taking some precautions with him.”
Sizemore, who is in the midst of attempting to come back from microfracture surgery on his left knee, is batting .282 with six home runs and 11 RBIs in 18 games since leaving the DL. His six homers lead the club.
The good news is that the most recent injury is not to the left knee. The bad news is that he sustained it the same way he did last year — on a slide into second base.
Sizemore returned to Progressive Field after undergoing the MRI but did not speak to reporters before or after.
Oft-injured designated hitter Travis Hafner was also out of the lineup Wednesday, but was given the day off with the lefty Price on the mound.
Back in there
The Indians officially activated right-hander Carlos Carrasco from the disabled list Wednesday to start against Tampa Bay.
As expected, reliever Frank Herrmann was optioned back to Triple-A Columbus. Herrmann made the club out of spring training but hasn’t appeared in his last two stints in Cleveland.
Talbot’s tale
Mitch Talbot (strained right elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday at Progressive Field and is scheduled to make his second rehab appearance Saturday.
Acta said Talbot would make his third and final rehab outing with Columbus. If the right-hander emerges with no setbacks, he could rejoin the rotation before the end of the month.
Thanks, Wedgie
Acta credited former Indians manager Eric Wedge (2003-09) for helping to mold this current Indians team and instilling an attitude among Cleveland players that continues today.
“We’re reaping some of the benefits from when Eric was here, setting the tone for high character people,” Acta said. “We’re looking for guys that are relentless, scrappy, hard-working mentally tough guys. We don’t want to spend time rehabbing character.
“Up here, we have a very good group. Whether you win it or lose it, they enjoy being around each other. The big key is the veterans we brought over here have really meshed and helped these (young) guys.”
Minor details
Columbus’ Travis Buck entered Wednesday batting .340 with two homers and 17 RBIs in 14 games since being optioned to the minors to clear room for Sizemore on Cleveland’s 25-man roster. … Double-A Akron closer Cory Burns had struck out 22 batters in 11 innings of 12 games on the season but owned an 0-2 record and 5.73 ERA through Tuesday. … Class A Lake County outfielder Anthony Gallas was named Midwest League player of the week (May 2-8), batting .433 (13-for-30) with five doubles, three RBIs and six runs over the span. Gallas, a non-drafted free-agent acquisition last year, entered Wednesday hitting .349 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 28 games.
Roundin’ third
Since allowing 10 earned runs on Opening Day, Indians ace Fausto Carmona is 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA over his last seven starts. The right-hander has allowed only three earned runs over his last three starts (22 innings) and has worked at least seven innings in six of his last seven starts. … Today, 12:05, MLB Network/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Masterson (5-0, 2.11) vs. Shields (3-1, 2.01).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
