Sizemore activated for crucial series

By SHELDON OCKER

Akron Beacon Journal

CLEVELAND

Is there enough time for Grady Sizemore to help the Indians stay in the Central Division race?

Sizemore returned to the lineup Monday as the Indians’ centerfielder and leadoff batter against the Tigers. He had been on the disabled list since July 18 with a bone bruise in his right knee and a sports hernia that required surgery to repair.

“Grady will play a certain number of days a week,” manager Manny Acta said. “There is a possibility that he could DH [when Jim Thome has a day off], but when Grady is off, he’s off, completely off, because it takes him a lot of work to get going. So there will be no pinch hitting or anything like that.”

Sizemore doesn’t pretend to be totally healthy; that probably won’t happen until next spring.

“I wouldn’t say 100 percent,” Sizemore said. “Nobody’s ever 100 percent. I’m still working through the injuries. I’m sure I’ll be a little rusty, but I feel good, and I feel strong.”

He is coming off a three-game rehab assignment with Akron and Columbus, where he went 4-for-11 with a double.

Sizemore began the season on the DL after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee last year. He was activated April 17 and played until incurring the knee bruise in mid-May.

He returned to the DL from May 11 through May 26, but he didn’t get much of a reprieve from his injuries, returning to the DL on July 18 with the same deep bone bruise. It was revealed soon after that he had been playing despite the sports hernia.

Sizemore is batting .237 with 21 doubles, 10 home runs, 29 RBI and 32 runs in 232 at-bats (61 games).