Major League Baseball

Indians' Sizemore goes on DL with knee injury

Published May. 20, 2010 12:13 a.m. ET

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Injuries to Grady Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera have put the Cleveland Indians' threshold for pain to another agonizing test.

Sizemore joined Cabrera on the disabled list Wednesday as the Indians opened an eight-game homestand without the two players usually atop their lineup.

``This is very tough,'' manager Manny Acta said. ``Nobody anticipated us missing our two best players, but nobody said this was going to be easy.''

Sizemore has a deep bone bruise in his left knee and will be sidelined at least 15 days, while Cabrera had surgery by Dr. Tom Graham in Baltimore to repair a displaced fracture of the ulna bone in his left arm.

Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff did not rule out surgery for Sizemore, either. An MRI exam confirmed a diagnosis that was made after the veteran outfielder was hurt while diving back to the first-base bag in a game in Baltimore.

``We're exploring the best treatment options,'' Soloff said. ``We'll monitor his progress over the next 15 days.''

Sizemore missed the final month of the 2009 season after having surgery on his abdomen and left elbow - injuries that hounded him throughout the worst year of his career. After being an AL All-Star for three consecutive years during which he averaged 29 homers and 118 runs, the Gold Glove winner batted only .248 with 18 homers and 73 RBIs in 106 games.

In 33 games this year, he had no homers, 15 runs and 13 RBIs with a .211 average.

``He's a very tough guy,'' Acta said of Sizemore, who had missed only five games over four seasons before 2009. ``It's hard to get him out of the lineup, so when he came to me (Sunday) and said he had to come out I knew the injury was bad.''

Soloff said Cabrera should return in 8-10 weeks. The switch-hitter, batting .287 in 33 games, was hurt when he collided with third baseman Jhonny Peralta as he backhanded a ground ball at Tampa Bay.

The injuries add to the angst of reeling Cleveland sports fans. They came less than a week after the stunning departure of the Cavaliers from the NBA playoffs and with rumors swirling over whether LeBron James will leave as a free agent.

Despite closer Kerry Wood and first baseman Russell Branyan missing the first month with injuries, Acta believes the Indians were set to improve its 15-22 record.

``We were starting to click,'' Acta said. ``Grady was starting to hit. (Travis) Hafner was starting to hit. Branyan had a good trip. But there's nothing you can do (about injuries). And the other teams don't care. I've never gotten a sorry card from any other manager.''

Veteran outfielder-first baseman Shelley Duncan was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to take Sizemore's roster spot and Cabrera was transferred to the 60-day DL.

The 30-year-old Duncan was signed to a minor league contract in January and hit .301 with six homers and 34 RBIS in 38 games at Columbus.

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