CLEVELAND -- David Murphy, who has been out the past three weeks, could be closer to returning to the Indians lineup. The outfielder, who was placed on the disabled list on Aug. 10 with a strained oblique, will play two rehab games in Columbus on Wednesday and Thursday. The regular minor-league year ended on Monday but the Clippers and Double-A Akron both qualified for their respective playoffs.
Murphy said he did some hitting on the field over the weekend and Kansas City and had hoped to do some before tonight's game against Detroit, but batting practice was scratched due to rain.
"It's such a sensitive area. I've tried to compromise between what I'm feeling -- obviously I want to get out there as soon as possible -- and trying to be smart with it and trust what they're saying," Murphy said. "I felt great running. My main hesitation would be in hitting. The main thing the other day is I felt it minimally a few times on swings on pitches away. Hopefully, it'll only continue to strengthen and get better from here."
Manager Terry Francona said that Murphy would play five innings on Wednesday and then seven on Thursday as the Clippers host Durham in the International League semifinals. The first two are in Columbus with the final three in Durham.
Murphy, who is batting .262 on the season, was 12 for 31 with a home run and seven RBI in nine games in August before the injury.
AVILES UPDATE: Mike Aviles passed all the concussion tests but was still being evaluated after leaving Monday's game in the fourth inning. Aviles banged his head while diving for the ball hit by leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler in the first inning of Monday's game.
Speaking of Aviles, official scorer Chad Broski changed a Miguel Cabrera hit in the third inning to an Aviles error. That is the 106th error of the season for the Indians, who are on track for 126. That would be their most since 2003 when they also had 126.
The change also meant that all three runs in the inning are unearned. Corey Kluber's ERA drops from 2.72 to 2.58.
RABURN ACTIVATED: Ryan Raburn, who had been on the DL since Aug. 18 due to right wrist soreness, was activated on Tuesday and is batting seventh as Detroit will start left-hander Kyle Lobstein.
Said Francona of Raburn: "You look at the end of the year and his stats might not reflect it but if he can have a hot three or four weeks especially with the lefties we are facing that would be great."
After batting .272 last season, Raburn's average is .191 in 70 games.
AGUILAR HONORED: Jesus Aguilar, who was called up on Monday, was named the International League and Indians Minor League Player of the Week on Tuesday.
Aguilar was 12 for 26, including seven extra-base hits, last week as the Clippers clinched the International League West Division title. He also hit .365 with five home runs, 13 RBI and 19 runs scored in August en route to being named the International League Player of the Month for the first time in his career.
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