DETROIT -- The Indians have four key players on the 10-day disabled list who are all making progress, but manager Terry Francona is hesitant to put a timeframe on a few of their returns, because he wants them to heal properly.
"We don't have a timetable right now, and that's on purpose," Francona said Saturday. "We want these guys to get healthy. We want to give them a chance to be ready to go, so we're just letting them do their thing."
Starting pitcher Danny Salazar has been on the DL since Aug. 22 with inflammation in his right elbow. He is the only one of the four with a relative timetable, with Francona saying they are targeting Tuesday against the White Sox as his next start date.
Salazar threw a 23-pitch simulated game at Double-A Akron, and he had no issues. He would not go deep into Tuesday's game, but barring a setback, Francona expects him to start in Chicago.
Things are a little more up in the air with outfielder Michael Brantley (right ankle), second baseman Jason Kipnis (right hamstring) and left-handed setup man Andrew Miller (right knee patella tendinitis).

Kipnis has been running on flat ground, as well as throwing and taking swings, and hasn't shown any signs of issues. He is expected to begin running full speed and fielding ground balls next week.
Brantley, on the other hand, has been running on an AlterG (non-weight-bearing) treadmill to keep weight off his ankle, and he could be looking at a little more recovery time than Kipnis.
Miller has been throwing on flat ground for a few days. His next step will be throwing off the mound, but the club is not sure when that will be.