CLEVELAND -- Prior to their matchup with the Tigers on Sunday night at Progressive Field, the Indians placed second baseman Jason Kipnis on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain.
Kipnis was injured trying to beat out a checked-swing ground ball in the third inning of Saturday's 4-0 victory over Detroit. Third baseman Giovanny Urshela was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to replace Kipnis on the active roster.
"I think we saw that he was running hard down the line and all of a sudden he felt a strain in his hamstring," Indians bench coach and acting manager Brad Mills said on Sunday. "We saw that when he limped off, we said, 'Is that something we need to go there for?' He waved us off and said, 'No, I'll just walk back.' And he did. And it was concluded today that he has a mild hamstring [strain] and needs to go on the disabled list.
"How long is it going to be? Well, at least 10 days. And we'll see. It'll probably, maybe be a little worse than a mild hamstring, but sometimes those take a little time, longer than the 10 days if necessary. We'll see how it progresses and so forth as we move forward."
Kipnis' trip to the DL comes one day before the All-Star break, so he'll only miss one game during the first five days of his stint. The Tribe opens the second half on Friday in Oakland.
Before Kipnis was removed on Saturday, he had gone 1-for-2 with a double against Tigers starter Justin Verlander. In his last three games, Kipnis has gone 4-for-9 (.444) with four doubles, four runs scored and three walks.
"It's really tough because we're in a situation where he was really starting to swing the bat well," Mills said. "Now, he was able to start swinging the bat, feeling good about himself and running well and getting the extra base hits, and then this happens. We're really looking forward to an opportunity for him to continue working hard through this period, that he's able to come back and be ready as soon as possible."
It marks Kipnis' second stint on the DL this season, as he began the year sidelined with a right shoulder injury before making his season debut on April 21 against the White Sox. In 66 games this season, Kipnis is hitting .232 with eight homers, 19 doubles, 26 RBIs, 32 runs scored, 22 walks and five stolen bases.
With Kipnis on the shelf, Erik Gonzalez will fill in at second, with third baseman Jose Ramirez providing backup.
Urshela makes his second trip to the Majors this season. He was recalled for the second game of a doubleheader with the Twins on June 17, played third base and went 0-for-4. With Columbus this season, he is hitting .266 with six homers, 12 doubles and 34 RBIs in 76 games. He has played 60 games at third and 16 at shortstop.
"Gio had played not just third base. He's played some short as well," Mills said. "We also have Jose Ramirez, who can play second base and has played short as well. [Gonzalez] has played short and all over the infield. Well, this adds another piece, so we can move around that infield a little bit more."