CLEVELAND -- Andrew Miller took the mound at Progressive Field on Friday afternoon to test his right knee in a workout. Jason Kipnis -- on the disabled list along with the relief ace -- stood in the batter's box to track pitches from the left-hander.
That was not only a snapshot of the reinforcements that are still coming for the American League Central-leading Tribe, but a look at just how incredible the club's historic run this month has been. The Indians arrived home on Friday riding a franchise-record 15-game winning streak, which was accomplished even with some key players shelved with injuries.
"I don't want to come back and mess it up," Miller quipped. "These guys are doing pretty good. A lot of things have gone our way, but these guys are playing really well. They're creating their own breaks. It's been really fun to watch. It's not a lot of fun to miss out on. Every night I turn on the TV and it's pretty incredible what they've been doing."
Miller, who has been sidelined since Aug. 22 with patellar tendinitis in his knee, said he logged more than 40 pitches between his warmup in the bullpen and his on-field mound session on Friday. That included roughly 20 pitches with batters standing in. Indians manager Terry Francona noted that, barring any setbacks, Miller would likely have a couple of more simulated games next week.
The reliever said his goal would be to have at most a half-dozen throwing sessions in order to work on "in-game adjustments" and continue to simulate game speed. His hope would then be to come off the DL for some game action down the stretch in preparation for the postseason.
"I hope that's the case," Francona said. "That might be a little bit ambitious -- it might not be. That would be great if he could do that, because I think, one, it helps us win, but you certainly have a better understanding of where you are, not wondering what you have and what you don't have."
Other injury updates
• Kipnis (10-day DL, right hamstring) did some running drills in the outfield on Friday before standing in for Miller's mound session. With the Minor League season ending soon, Francona said Kipnis may have to do some simulated-game workouts facing some of Cleveland's pitchers (Kyle Crockett or Shawn Morimando, for example) when he progresses to the game stage of his rehab.
• Left fielder Michael Brantley (10-day DL, right ankle) continues to do some baseball activities, but his running remains limited to the AlterG treadmill to take stress off his legs. Said Francona: "I think he's frustrated, but there's that one spot that's just not ready to let him do it yet."
• Infielder Jose Ramirez remained out of the Tribe's starting lineup on Friday due to a sore right wrist. Francona said Ramirez was much improved and would likely return to the order for Saturday's game against Baltimore.