With nine games left in the season, there's a chance Donald could be shut down for the remainder of the season because of an injured finger.
View full sizeAsdrubal Cabrera has been out of the lineup because of an injured wrist by might return Friday night.CLEVELAND, Ohio — Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera said he could be back in the lineup Friday night. Cabrera missed his third straight start Thursday after jamming his left wrist Monday against the Twins at Target Field.
Cabrera took infield and a round of batting practice before Thursday's game against Kansas City.
"The wrist feels good," Cabrera said. "I think I could play right now. We'll have to see what the doctor says."
Dr. Thomas Graham was scheduled to examine Cabrera and infielder Jason Donald (right index finger) late Thursday afternoon.
With nine games left in the season, there's a chance Donald could be shut down for the remainder of the season. He injured the finger bunting Sept. 11.
"We've watched films of the play over and over again," said Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer. "Jason didn't bunt the ball with the bat, he bunted it with his finger.
View full sizeJason Donald might not play again this season because of an injured finger."We're going to be cautious with Donald. We just want to make sure he finishes the season healthy. If that involves him progressing to full baseball activities and not playing, that's an option. Playing a game is an option, too, if he's on track to do that."
Other injury news: Center fielder Michael Brantley was scratched from Thursday's lineup because of a strained left hamstring. Trevor Crowe replaced him in center and the leadoff spot.
Brantley entered the night having hit safely in 29 of his previous 31 games.
Reliever Hector Ambriz, the Rule 5 reliever the Indians carried all season, could face Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He was examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles earlier this week.
"He's looking over his options," manager Manny Acta said.
Soloff said the Tommy John surgery option would cost him next season.
The Indians placed Ambriz and Carlos Santana on the 60-day disabled list Thursday to make room for right-hander Vinnie Pestano and catcher Luke Carlin on the 40-man roster. Pestano, Carlin and manager Mike Sarbaugh joined the club from Class AAA Columbus.
Sarbaugh managed the Clippers to the International League championship and Class AAA championship this season.
Grady Sizemore is in Vail, Colo., for a regularly scheduled examination of his surgically repaired left knee. Sizemore underwent microfracture surgery in June. Dr. Richard Steadman performed the surgery at his clinic in Vail.
Sizemore is working out five days a week at the Indians' spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz.
"Grady has been working a lot in the pool," Soloff said, "and he's doing some lower-level quadriceps activity. He's doing extensions with the quad and doing a lot of work on the exercise bicycle as well.
"He'll progress to land-based activities -- lunging and squatting activities -- roughly in the next two to four weeks. They protect him a great deal after microfracture surgery, but so far, so good."
James Quinlan, Indians rehabilitation coordinator in Goodyear, is overseeing Sizemore's training sessions.
Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff contributed to this report.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158