Smoke signals

• Indians All-Star closer Chris Perez, who is working his way back from a right shoulder strain, logged one inning in a Minor League game on Saturday. Perez threw 30 pitches, including 19 strikes, and allowed one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.

"Great to get out there again," Perez wrote on his @ChrisPerez54 Twitter page. "If the season started next week, I'd be ready. What's that? It does start next week? #Ready #BullpenMafia."

• Francona said catcher Carlos Santana will use most of the next week catching up with the team's many signs, which are modified for the regular season. Santana rejoined Cleveland on Thursday after helping the Dominican Republic win the World Baseball Classic.

• Francona indicated that Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, who has missed the past four games due to a tender right elbow, should be back in the lineup on Sunday. Kipnis said earlier this week that the injury was not serious and he could play through it in the regular season.

• Cleveland posts a daily pitching leaderboard in its clubhouse for first-pitch strikes and 1-1 strikes. In the 1-1 strike category, right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez led the team's starting pitchers with a strike rate of 83 percent (20-for-24).

• Indians right fielder Matt Carson exited Saturday's game in the fifth inning after falling at the warning track while trying to make a catch on Kyle Seager's triple for Seattle. Carson suffered a forehead laceration and a neck strain and is considered day to day.