Indians' Kipnis on track to play in minor-league rehab game on Friday
CLEVELAND -- Second baseman Jason Kipnis was doing some agility drills in left field on Tuesday as his comeback from an oblique injury continues to be on track. Kipnis is expected to play in a rehab game in Triple-A Columbus on Friday and maybe Saturday before being activated next week. The Indians begin a four-game series in Baltimore on Thursday and then go to Chicago for three.
Kipnis suffered the injury during an April 29 game against the Angels and was placed on the DL on May 2. Even when Kipnis does come back, Francona does not feel the need to play him every day.
"When a guy comes back that's probably when they need days off. They aren't used to playing everyday," Terry Francona said. "Their bodies aren't used to it. So, we don't have to do that."
GIAMBI ACTIVATED: Jason Giambi is back after his second stint on the disabled list, but this one was a lot different.
Giambi began the year on the DL due to a broken rib that he suffered after getting hit by a pitch during a spring training game on March 7. He was activated on April 21 and played in four games (0 for 10) before landing on the DL again on May 4 after a right calf strain.
"The biggest help with this injury was I could do everything. I could hit, run and field. With the rib I was shut down for five weeks," Giambi said. "This allowed me a chance to catch up on my hitting. I feel like I don't have to make up on lost time."
Giambi wasn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Tigers and one of the bigger challenges going forward will be finding at-bats for him. Wednesday is a possibility with it being a day game.
OTHER MOVES: When Jose Ramirez was called up when Kipnis was placed on the DL, some expected Ramirez to get the majority of the time at second. But with the way Mike Aviles has been hitting in May, Ramirez's playing time has decreased and he was sent back down to Columbus on Tuesday.
Justin Sellers, who can play second, shortstop and third, was called up and is expected to be used as a late-game replacement or pinch runner. Aviles is batting .296 (16 of 54) this month with a home run and six RBI.
"Ramirez needs to play. Sellers is good defender and doesn't hinder Ramirez's development in Columbus," Francona said.
PREGAME ENCOUNTER: Francona had a chance to catch up with Jim Leyland before Francona did his pregame media availability. Leyland, who managed the Tigers for eight seasons before retiring after last year, is an assistant to the general manager for Detroit and watched Monday's game from the press box.
"He's so much about what is good about our game that I enjoy him so much," Francona said. "I've always watched him since I was a player in Triple A and he was managing in Evansville. When you are a 21-year old kid you don't pay attention to the opposing manager but you could tell even then he was going to be good."
