CLEVELAND -- Michael Bourn could be back for the Indians this weekend while Nick Swisher’s status remains up in the air.
Before Tuesday’s game against Arizona, manager Terry Francona said about Bourn “I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays for us this weekend.”
Bourn, who has been on the disabled list since July 6 with a strained left hamstring, hasn’t had any setbacks in four rehab games between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. After a three-game stint in Akron last week, where he went 0 for 10, Bourn was 1 for 4 on Monday for Columbus against Lehigh Valley on Monday. He is expected to play all nine innings tonight.
“He’s doing really well. Got down to first the past couple games in times that are more Bourneylike (4.1-4.2 seconds),” Francona said. “We just have to figure out how to get him to this weekend. Having him sit for a couple days wouldn’t do much good.”
Swisher, who was placed on the disabled list Sunday after recurrence of right knee pain, is getting a second opinion before a diagnosis and a plan of care are determined. Dr. Rick Parker at the Cleveland Clinic examined Swisher on Monday.
David Murphy is expected to miss 4-5 weeks after an MRI on Monday confirmed a strained right oblique. The Indians’ right fielder was placed on the disabled list on Sunday after feeling the injury get worse on Saturday.
Murphy told reporters over the weekend that he had been feeling pain for most of the week. Murphy is batting .262 this season. After a slump from mid-June to mid-July, Murphy was 12 for 31 with seven RBI in August.
“I think the way it was described as mild to moderate which was not that surprising. With obliques they are going to heal on their own,” Francona said. “This thing you have to get is the pain to go away where you have to start doing some things.”
