GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians' middle infield hasn’t had much luck in the injury department in the early weeks of spring.

After shortstop Francisco Lindor sustained a moderate calf strain at the beginning of February, second baseman Jason Kipnis has dealt with hip flexor tightness in his left leg, but the Indians don’t seem to be too concerned.

“He’s fine,” Terry Francona said. “He’s actually been doing everything. He’s going to run the bases [on Friday]. We just haven’t put him in a game.”

Kipnis went 2-for-2 in his only Spring Training game on Sunday. But Francona said that the tightness in his left hip flexor began before Sunday’s contest against the D-backs. Each morning, the team begins its practices by running the bases after early morning stretches, which is when Kipnis first felt the tightness, according to Francona.

“He said he felt it then and he played a couple games after that,” Francona said. “This is something that if it was during the regular season, he’d play. It’s Spring Training. There’s no reason for him to start dragging that leg around. We’ll get rid of it. So, he’ll be OK.”

Francona said that the plan will be to give Kipnis the day off on Saturday when the team travels to Mesa to play the A’s. He hopes that he can get his second baseman back in the lineup on Sunday.

Ramirez exits after hit by pitch

In the third inning of Friday night’s 8-4 win against the split-squad Dodgers at Goodyear Ballpark, Jose Ramirez was hit by a pitch on the top of his foot. After walking it off with a slight limp down the first-base line, Francona pulled Ramirez just for precautionary purposes.

”He actually wanted to stay in,” Francona said. “That was his third game in a row. I just didn’t think it made much sense. … It was a breaking ball. He’s OK.”

Hand makes spring debut

In his first outing of the spring, Brad Hand relieved starter A.J. Cole in the third inning and tossed a scoreless frame, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.

“It was nice to see him in a real game,” Francona said. “I thought the ball came out of his hand good. Again, you’re getting your legs under you in your first outing. But I thought the ball came out fine.”

Chang goes deep

After committing two errors at shortstop and striking out in the second inning, Yu Chang made up for his early blunders in the fourth by blasting his first home run of the spring to center field.

“I was so happy for him because he had a tough night defensively,” Francona said. “Then he ends up taking a really good swing. There’s a lot of these young guys, kids who are getting valuable experience. You know, playing against the Dodgers in a night game. They all seem to be embracing whenever they play and I think it’s going to help them along the way.”

Lindor gets back in the cage

Lindor hopped into the batting cage for the first time this spring Friday afternoon. Francona said that the team will wait until about March 20 to determine whether their shortstop will be ready for Opening Day. If not, the team will then decide whether to have a utilityman fill in or carry an extra shortstop to temporarily replace Lindor. But Francona remained optimistic that Lindor would have a speedy recovery.

”He’s actually progressing really quick. That’s not a surprise,” Francona said. “He’s young, he’s strong, he’s kind of the easy guy to bet on the under.”

Up next

The Indians will travel to Mesa on Saturday at 3:05 p.m. ET to play the A’s at Hohokam Stadium. Cleveland right-hander Trevor Bauer will make his second start of the spring. Righty Paul Blackburn will get the ball for Oakland.