CLEVELAND — The injury updates on Indians relief pitcher Vinnie Pestano and third baseman Jack Hannahan are positive.
Pestano, who left Saturday’s loss to the Rangers with lower back tightness, was examined Sunday and will most likely be available for the series opener with Minnesota tonight.
“It’s nothing serious,” manager Manny Acta said of Pestano’s injury, which occurred as he was warming up. The right-hander did not throw a pitch. “It was just some backs spasms, but we still have to see how he feels (today).”
Since surprising many by making the opening-day roster out of spring training, Pestano has been one of Cleveland’s most effective arms out of the bullpen. He is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in 23 appearances, while striking out 27 batters in 21 innings.
Hannahan (left hamstring soreness) missed his third straight game Sunday, but Acta said it was probable he would also return tonight. Hannahan was replaced by utility infielder Adam Everett for the third straight time.
Big league Choo
A mental break day off Saturday night did little for a scuffling Shin-Soo Choo, who was dropped to sixth in the order for the first time this season and went hitless with one strikeout in two official at-bats.
Choo, hitting .239 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 55 games, has just four hits in his last 25 at-bats. He has one home run since April 29 and has gone 11 straight games without driving in a run.
Next up
The Indians host Central Division rival Minnesota for the first time this season in a three-game series that begins tonight at 7:05.
Josh Tomlin (7-2, 3.27 ERA) opens the set, opposing RHP Scott Baker (2-4, 3.86), while Carlos Carrasco (4-3, 5.18) goes for Cleveland on Tuesday (7:05 p.m.) against LHP Francisco Liriano (3-5, 5.73). Liriano is expected to leave the disabled list to start.
Justin Masterson (5-4, 3.28) starts the series finale Wednesday (12:05), Minnesota countering with former Cleveland pitcher, right-hander Carl Pavano (3-5, 4.83).
Minor details
Class A Lake County will be represented by six players — OF Anthony Gallas, C Alex Monslave, INF Argenis Martinez, RHP Clayton Ehlert, RHP Michael Goodnight and LHP Mike Rayl — on the Midwest League mid-season all-star game, June 21, in Davenport, Iowa.
The Cleveland-born Gallas (.342, 6 HR, 21 RBIs), who attended Kent State University, will start for the Eastern Division.
The rest — Monslave (.282, 2 HR, 22 RBIs), defensive-minded Martinez (.205, 0 HR, 18 RBIs), Ehlert (1-2, 2.70 ERA, 10 saves), Goodnight (4-3, 3.27) and Rayl (4-1, 2.05) — were chosen as reserves.
Captains manager Ted Kubiak and his staff will guide the Eastern Division team.
Roundin’ third
Grady Sizemore was not in the lineup Sunday, a prescribed day off for the center fielder. … Indians have committed at least one error in 10 of their last 14 games. … Prior to Sunday, the Indians were one of five teams — Rangers, Braves Marlins and Cards — that had yet to lose four straight games. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
