ST. PETERSBURG -- Two days after reaggravating his right hamstring, Jason Kipnis had a smooth workout Saturday, and the second baseman seems to have avoided falling back onto the disabled list, manager Terry Francona said.
Francona said the Indians would monitor how Kipnis's right hamstring felt as he cooled down from the workout, but the manager's belief was that Kipnis would be available to pinch-hit Saturday.
"And I think we all feel like he might play [Sunday]," Francona said. "So we're good there. ... We're going to stay away from the DL, and you might even see him later tonight."
Francona said he felt relief for Kipnis, who had missed 22 games through July and August due to a strain of the same hamstring.
"He did such a good job working to get back, you hate to see him have to go back on the DL," Francona said.
Kipnis exited Thursday's game in the bottom of the fourth inning, shortly after he hit a ground-rule double and reached third base on a fielder's choice. It was his fourth game back from the original DL stint for the hamstring.