MLB PLAYER NEWS

Indians lose Kipnis for at least two weeks

The Sports Xchange

August 04, 2015 at 4:22 am.

Jul 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; American League second baseman Jason Kipnis (22) of the Cleveland Indians at bat against the National League during the sixth inning of the 2015 MLB All Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Kipnis leads the American League with 31 doubles, shares first place with 132 hits, ranks second with a .401 on-base percentage and owns third with a .326 average. Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. — One of the American League’s best hitters, and one of the Cleveland Indians’ few consistent offensive threats, will be out of action for at least two weeks.

An inflamed right shoulder forced second baseman Jason Kipnis onto the 15-day disabled list Monday, retroactive to Sunday. Kipnis leads the American League with 31 doubles, shares first place with 132 hits, ranks second with a .401 on-base percentage and owns third with a .326 average.

Kipnis’ shoulder has bothered him on occasion this season. But the pain forced him out of the lineup Sunday.

“It doesn’t hurt when he hits,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “But (being on the disabled list) will give him a chance to be a complete player, not just a DH. With the swelling in there, we just felt like not giving him a chance to hurt himself when he shouldn’t.”

Kipnis’ absence hurts an already anemic offense. Since June 1, the Indians have scored the fewest runs in the major leagues, 178, and managed no more than three runs in 54 of their 105 games this year.

Infielder Jose Ramirez was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Monday and will “probably play the majority of the games” at second base, Francona said. As far as the batting order goes, the most likely candidates to replace Kipnis as the leadoff hitter appear to be Ramirez, shortstop Francisco Lindor and center fielder Michael Bourn.

“It depends on how guys are swinging it,” Francona said. “With ‘Kip’ out, you might see a few different lineups.”

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