GLENDALE, Ariz. — Indians manager Manny Acta doesn’t have many decisions to make this spring. It’s a good thing, since Acta said Sunday that he is not close to making any of them.

“We’ve got two weeks left,” said Acta, prior to Cleveland’s 12-5 victory over the Dodgers at The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch. “We’re not going to make any decisions right now.”

Acta’s biggest decision will come in the rotation, where three pitchers — left-handers David Huff and Aaron Laffey, and right-hander Mitch Talbot — are competing for two jobs.

Talbot, the only one without minor-league options, has pitched the best during the exhibition season, posting a 1-0 record and microscopic 0.79 ERA in four appearances (two starts) — 11 1/3 innings.

Laffey is 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA in four games (three starts), covering 102/3 innings, while Huff is at 1-1 with a 6.57 ERA in four appearances (three starts) — 121/3 innings.

The thought is that whoever loses out in the rotation race will join the Indians’ bullpen, which has three openings, now that closer Kerry Wood will miss 6-8 weeks with a strained right lat muscle.

Laffey is the only one with any real experience as a big-league reliever, making six appearances out of Cleveland’s bullpen last year. That could work against him in his bid for a starting spot.

Acta’s most difficult decision is likely to come in left field, where four players — Michael Brantley, Matt LaPorta, Austin Kearns and Trevor Crowe — are vying for the starting job.

That view has been further muddled by the uncertain status of first baseman Russell Branyan (herniated disk lower back), who has yet to make an exhibition appearance. If Branyan is unable to start the season, LaPorta and Kearns would become options at first base.

“I think a lot of that is going to be revealed once the Russell Branyan situation is more clear,” Acta said.

“We feel comfortable with any of those guys out there (in left field).”

Crowe is batting .348 (8-for-23) with three doubles and five RBIs in seven exhibition games. LaPorta, who got a late start to camp after undergoing two offseason surgeries (left big toe, left hip), is hitting .417 (5-for-12) with a double and five RBIs in five games. Kearns is batting .250 (7-for-28) with two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs in 11 games, while Brantley is at .323 (10-for-31) with a double, triple and four RBIs in 11 games.

Brantley, who is considered the best defensive outfielder among the candidates, left Sunday’s game for precautionary reasons after stepping awkwardly on his right ankle while running to first base.

Kearns, who had surgery on his right thumb and was limited to 80 games for the Nationals last year, easily has the most big-league experience as an eight-year veteran.

“Like everybody else, he is tied for first,” Acta said of Kearns, who could also make the roster as a utility infielder/outfielder. “We’ll make that decision at the end of camp.”

With a starter expected to grab one of the bullpen spots, two are still open, which was the case when training camp began. Right-handers Jensen Lewis (0-0, 3.00 ERA in five appearances) and Jamey Wright (1-0, 1.17 ERA in five appearances) are the frontrunners for the vacancies, with Jess Todd, Saul Rivera and Jeremy Sowers also in the mix.

Though nothing is official in the race for the starting catching job between Lou Marson (.222 with an RBI in eight games) and Wyatt Toregas (.200 with two RBIs in seven games), it would be a surprise if Marson, who was part of last year’s trade with the Phillies for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco, doesn’t win the job. Veteran Mike Redmond will take a roster spot as the backup.

There are three utility spots open, with Branyan’s status expected to play a part in this department as well.

Whoever doesn’t win the left field job would become utility candidates, though the Indians would most likely not put one of their young players — i.e. LaPorta, Brantley or Crowe — on the bench, rather than having them play on a fulltime basis at the Triple-A level.

Kearns, veteran infielder Mark Grudzielanek, infielder/outfielder Shelley Duncan and infielder Luis Rodriguez are all options for utility spots.

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

GLENDALE, Ariz. — A day after receiving some bad news on the injury front — closer Kerry Wood — the Indians got some good news in the department.

Cleveland manager Manny Acta said first baseman Russell Branyan was expected to run and play catch Sunday at the team’s complex in Goodyear. Branyan has yet to make an exhibition appearance, still dealing with a herniated disk in his lower back, but the manager sounded as though the slugger was headed in that direction.

“He’s going to increase his activities this week,” Acta said.

Acta has said since the start of training camp that if Branyan is able to make it back for the final week of the exhibition season, he would be on the club’s opening-day roster.

The Indians even got some positive news where Wood is concerned, after announcing Saturday that the closer would miss 6-8 weeks with a strained muscle in his upper back on the right side.

Wood, who has made 12 trips to the disabled list during a 12-year career, told reporters prior to the Indians’ game against the Dodgers at The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch that he did not expect to miss the full two months. Former Cleveland reliever Rafael Betancourt dealt with the same injury in 2006 and missed only a month.

“Usually, you want to be on the safe side, but we all hope it’s not going to take that long,” Acta said.

Body by Jake

Jake Westbrook continued to progress in positive fashion, pitching 42/3 innings, while allowing just a run on six hits in the Indians’ 12-5 victory over the Dodgers.

Westbrook, 2-0 with a 4.97 ERA in four exhibition starts, has improved in each outing since taking the mound for the first time on March 8.

“Jake threw the ball well,” Acta said. “What I’m excited about is that he pitched behind in the count all day and they still couldn’t square him up. He got ground balls all day.”

Brantley’s boo-boo

Left fielder Michael Brantley left the game with a right ankle injury after stepping awkwardly while running to first on a fielder’s choice ground out in the fourth inning.

“He’s fine,” Acta said. “I’m not anticipating anything serious.”

Still, Acta said Brantley, who has had issues with the same ankle the past two seasons, was headed for an examination after the game. An update is expected today.

Raffy’s ready?

Reliever Rafael Perez looks as though he’s back to form this spring. The left-hander has allowed just a run on three hits, while striking out six in six exhibition appearances (six innings).

Perez, a pivotal part of the back end of Cleveland’s bullpen from 2007-08, struggled to a 7.31 ERA in 54 games last year and was demoted to the minors for a spell.

“The feel is that he didn’t use his pitches and relied too much on his slider,” Acta said. “And the league made adjustments to him. He became too predictable.”

Roundin’ third

Four former Indians — Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake, Ronnie Belliard and Jamey Carroll — are on the Dodgers’ roster, but only Belliard was in the lineup against Cleveland. Another ex-Indian, Brian Giles, was in camp with LA but retired.

Today, 4:05 vs. Cubs at HoHoKam Park (Mesa). No television or radio. Fausto Carmona (1-0, 1.29) vs. RHP Jeff Samardzija (0-1, 9.00).

Indians (11-5-2) 12, Dodgers (6-9-1) 5

Hits

• Designated hitter Travis Hafner and right fielder Austin Kearns combined to drive in eight runs. Hafner went 2-for-4 with a double, while Kearns was 2-for-3 with a pair of two-run home runs and five RBIs.
• Center fielder Grady Sizemore went 2-for-2 with a double, two runs, an RBI and his first stolen base of the spring. He also made a running catch with a runner on third for the final out in the opening inning.
• Indians starter Jake Westbrook improved to 2-0 in four starts. He allowed a run on six hits, while striking out three over 4 2/3 innings.
• New closer Chris Perez pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts.

Misses

• Bullpen candidate Jess Todd allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk in one inning of work.
• Catcher Lou Marson went 0-for-3 and was the only Cleveland starter without a hit, save left fielder Michael Brantley, who left the game with an ankle injury after two at-bats.
• Reliever Joe Smith allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk in one inning.

A road win

Prior to Sunday, the Indians had lost four of their last five exhibition games away from Goodyear Ballpark. Cleveland finished the regular season last year with 15 straight losses on the road.

Attendance

9,754 at Glendale’s The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch.

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

GLENDALE, Ariz. – A day after receiving some bad news on the injury front – closer Kerry Wood — the Indians got some good news in the department.

Cleveland manager Manny Acta said first baseman Russell Branyan was expected to run and play catch Sunday at the team’s complex in Goodyear. Branyan has yet to make an exhibition appearance, still dealing with a herniated disk in his lower back, but the manager sounded as though the slugger was headed in that direction.

“He’s going to increase his activities this week,” Acta said.

Acta has said since the start of training camp that if Branyan is able to make it back for the final week of the exhibition season, he would be on the club’s opening-day roster.

The Indians even got some positive news where Wood is concerned, after announcing Saturday that the closer would miss 6-8 weeks with a strained muscle in his upper back on the right side.

Wood, who has made 12 trips to the disabled list during a 12-year career, told reporters prior to the Indians’ game against the Dodgers at The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch that he did not expect to miss the full two months. Former Cleveland reliever Rafael Betancourt dealt with the same injury in 2006 and missed only a month.

“Usually, you want to be on the safe side, but we all hope it’s not going to take that long,” Acta said.

Indians (11-5-2) 12, Dodgers (6-9-1) 5

Hits: Designated hitter Travis Hafner and right fielder Austin Kearns combined to drive in eight runs. Hafner went 2-for-4 with a double, while Kearns was 2-for-3 with a pair of two-run home runs and five RBIs. … Center fielder Grady Sizemore went 2-for-2 with a double, two runs, an RBI and his first stolen base of the spring. He also made a running catch with a runner on third for the final out in the opening inning. … Indians starter Jake Westbrook improved to 2-0 in four starts. He allowed a run on six hits, while striking out three over 4 2/3 innings. … New closer Chris Perez pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts.

Misses: Bullpen candidate Jess Todd allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk in one inning of work. … Catcher Lou Marson went 0-for-3 and was the only Cleveland starter without a hit, save left fielder Michael Brantley, who left the game with an ankle injury after two at-bats. … Reliever Joe Smith allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk in one inning.

A road win: Prior to Sunday, the Indians had lost four of their last five exhibition games away from Goodyear Ballpark. Cleveland finished the regular season last year with 15 straight losses on the road.

Attendance: 9,754 at Glendale’s The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch.