CLEVELAND -- The Indians placed second baseman Jason Kipnis on the disabled list on Wednesday with a strained right hamstring, one day after reliever Andrew Miller was shelved with a right knee issue. For both players, this marks the second stint on the DL in the second half with the same injuries.
Indians manager Terry Francona does not think the team made a mistake by activating either player prior to their setbacks.
"I don't think so," Francona said before Wednesday's game against the Red Sox. "We try to [wait until] when guys say they're ready and the medical people say they're ready. I know, shoot, I made Kip play one more [Minor League rehab] game than he really wanted to. He was mad at me that night.
"I think you try to use your best information, and it's certainly not perfect. We know that. And guys do get hurt, and when they get hurt, we do question ourselves -- I think as we should. But I don't think we would've done anything different."
Kipnis left Tuesday's 9-1 loss after one at-bat after reaggravating the left hamstring that kept him on the DL from July 9-Aug. 5. An MRI on Wednesday morning showed that Kipnis strained the hamstring again, but Francona noted that it could be a case of scar tissue breaking up. For now, there is no clear timetable for Kipnis' return. Jose Ramirez and Erik Gonzalez (called up from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday) are options to fill at second base.
"Rather than maybe try to milk it for three or four days, I think we felt like, 'Let's get him healthy,'" Francona said. "And I think he agreed with it. So there's really no timetable. It's going to be on how he feels. If it truly is scar tissue, he'll be quicker than probably normal, but like I said, they truly don't know. His strength is pretty good, so we'll see how it goes."
Miller exited Monday's 5-4 win in the seventh inning after seven pitches after patella tendinitis in his right knee flared up. The reliever met with Dr. Richard Parker -- the Cleveland Cavaliers' head team physician -- because the injury is more common among NBA players. The early feedback was that the injury does not appear to be as bad as during Miller's first DL stint (Aug. 2-17).
"He's way ahead of where he was a couple weeks ago," Francona said. "He saw Dr. Parker today, and the medical people will put out more [on Thursday], kind of more detailed. But I think the good news from Dr. Parker was he's real confident that Andrew's going to pitch and help us, which is good news."
Chisenhall on cusp of return
Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall (10-day DL, right calf) has not played in a Minor League rehab game since Saturday due to his wife giving birth to their third child. Francona noted that Chisenhall will work out with the Indians on Friday, and the team will decide at that point if he is ready to be activated or should play another rehab game on Sunday.
"I told him, 'Why don't we get you back here and just revisit,'" Francona said. "He's had quite a week. So we'll sit down and talk and see what we think he needs and what he thinks he needs. I think he felt like he was in a pretty good place."
Santana on the mend
First baseman Carlos Santana (back tightness) remained out of the starting lineup on Wednesday, but Francona said he might be available off the bench. Santana might be able to return to the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox. With Santana out, Yandy Diaz served as the designated hitter and Edwin Encarnacion slid to first base.
"A couple of days down, it can help him," Francona said. "You don't want him walking around with a back that is killing him, but a couple of days' rest can really maybe help energize him, because he's played a bunch. I know before I got here he played. He plays. He posts every day. It's really pretty amazing."