General manager Chris Antonetti told reporters Sunday that center fielder Grady Sizemore would be shut down for the remainder of the year a day after outfielder Trevor Crowe met the same fate.
Sizemore, who had not played since Thursday, is experiencing soreness in an ailing right knee that has already landed him on the disabled list twice this season. He was not at Progressive Field for the team’s home finale Sunday.
Sizemore, a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove award winner, began the year on the disabled list recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee.
He returned April 17, but endured another injury-plagued and unproductive season, batting just .224 with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs in 71 games. Sizemore, whom the Indians own an $8.5 million option in 2012, hit just .139 (5-for-36) in his final 10 games.
With Crowe out as well, the Indians recalled outfielder Jerad Head from Triple-A Columbus. To make room for Head on the 40-man roster, Cleveland transferred starting pitcher Josh Tomlin (right elbow soreness) to the 60-day DL.
It is also possible that All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera will not play again this season. Cabrera’s right elbow is still ailing after being hit by a pitch in a 6-5 win over the Twins on Friday.
He told reporters that he would not play in the series opener at Detroit tonight and wasn’t sure if he would in the remaining two games of the regular season, either.
September swingin’
Shelley Duncan continued his productive pace this month, going 2-for-3 with his 11th homer and two RBIs.
In 23 September games, Duncan is batting .291 (21-for-72) with seven homers and 22 RBIs. His RBI count is the second-highest in the majors behind Texas’ Adrian Beltre (24).
Next up
The Indians finish the regular season with a three-game series at Comerica Park against Central Division champion Detroit.
Ubaldo Jimenez (10-12, 4.52 ERA) opens the set tonight (7:05), opposing RHP Doug Fister (10-13, 2.94), while Jeanmar Gomez (5-2, 3.52) goes for Cleveland on Tuesday (7:05 p.m.) against RHP Max Scherzer (14-9, 4.37).
Zach McAllister (0-1, 5.83) will pitch the season finale Wednesday (7:05 p.m.), while the Tigers counter with RHP Rick Porcello (14-9, 4.76).
Final count
A crowd of 22,539 left the Indians with a season attendance total of 1,840,835 — up 449,191 from last year.
Cleveland entered Sunday ranked 24th in the majors with an average attendance of 22,728.
“I’m really grateful for the support our fans have given us all season,” manager Manny Acta said, “especially (Sunday) with the Browns in town. I thought it was a pretty good crowd.”
The Indians went 44-37 at Progressive Field with 17 last at-bat wins.
Roundin’ third
The Indians went 11-7 against the Twins this year, the first time they have won a season series against Minnesota since 2007. … Though they have captured just one since 2001, the Indians rank third in the majors with seven division titles during the wild-card era, which began in 1995. … 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.
