Mike Aviles, Sunday night's hero for the Cleveland Indians, was back on the bench Monday and that's all right with him.
View full sizeThe Indians' Mike Aviles clobbers a three-run homer Sunday night against the Royals in Kansas City, Mo. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mike Aviles hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high five runs Sunday night to help the Indians split a day-night doubleheader against Kansas City with a 10-3 victory in the nightcap.
Monday night, he was on the bench. Manager Terry Francona could have started him at second base, where Jason Kipnis entered the game hitting .180 (11-for-61) with three RBI. He could have started him at third, where Lonnie Chisenhall is hitting .234 (15-for-64) with two homers and nine RBI.
Aviles has played in 13 of the Tribe's 22 games and is hitting .250 (15-for-45) with two homers. His 11 RBI are second on the team to Mark Reynolds' 19.
After Sunday night's victory, Aviles was asked if he would be disappointed if he wasn't in Monday's lineup.
"In all honesty, no," said Aviles. "We have a lot of good players on this team. It's [Francona's] decision to put who he feels gives us the best chance to win that day. Whether it's me today, tomorrow, the next day or me in two weeks.
"It doesn't matter. I'm on board with whatever he does. That's how we're going to win games, mixing and matching and everybody playing together."
When Francona talked about Aviles before Monday night's game, it was clear he liked him in his current role. Aviles has started three games at second, four at third and three at shortstop.
"He's got 45 at-bats, so he's played a lot," said Francona. "I'm happy with the at-bats he's gotten. That's what a guy like Mike Aviles can do. When you can play him, you can move him around and he has the ability to hit more than a single."
In spring training, Francona talked about using Aviles in right and left field, but he didn't get much time there. Aviles played in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico, which made it to the final before losing to the Dominican Republic.
"We're going to have to work into him playing the outfield a little more. Right now, we're a little more comfortable with Ryan Raburn out there."
Back again: Right-hander Trevor Bauer did not make his scheduled start Monday night for Class AAA Columbus because he'll be starting Wednesday against former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee and the Phillies at Progressive Field.
Bauer was scheduled to face Pawtucket, Boston's Class AAA team, Monday. He is 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts for the Clippers. He's struck out 24, walked six and allowed five earned runs on 15 hits in 18 innings.
The opposition is hitting .242 against him and he has a 1.17 WHIP (walks and hits per nine innings).
Bauer, the third overall draft pick in 2011, has already made one start for the Tribe this season. On April 6, he allowed three runs on two hits in five innings of a 6-0 loss to the Rays.
Bauer walked the first four batters he faced that day and ended the game with seven walks. He threw 105 pitches, 59 for strikes.
Testing, testing: Closer Chris Perez had X-rays on his right thumb Monday after being hit there Sunday by a Jeff Francouer bouncer in the ninth inning of the nightcap.
"The tip of the thumb is still numb," said Perez before Monday's game. "I'm going out to play catch and see how it feels. But I should be fine."
The X-rays were negative.
Francona said he'd wait until after Perez played catch to determine if he could use him in a save situation Monday.
Slowly, but surely: Michael Bourn is considering going on a rehab assignment to play a couple of games once the spike wound on his right index finger allows him to swing a bat and throw a baseball more aggressively than he's doing right now.
Bourn is scheduled to come off the disabled list today.
Finally: Left-hander Scott Barnes was optioned to Columbus on Monday. Barnes was the Indians' 26th man for Sunday's doubleheader. He pitched in the first game and gave up a two-run homer to Alex Gordon.