Cleveland Indians Face Major Setback with Grady Sizemore Back on the DL

The Cleveland Indians are about to face another huge bump in the road on their hunt for October. Star center fielder Grady Sizemore is headed for the disabled list for the third time this season.

Sizemore went down Sunday afternoon after rounding the bag at first going for a double. He was able to limp gingerly to second, then was immediately taken out of the game.

Cleveland placed Sizemore on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee injury. All three of Sizemore's trips to the DL have been knee related.  

He started the season on the disabled list still recovering from micro-fracture surgery on his left knee, returning in mid-April. Come mid-May he bruised his right knee and was sidelined for a little over two weeks. The most recent injury came Sunday afternoon. 

For the Indians it could not come at a worse time. Going into the All-Star break, and the few days after, Sizemore started heating up, going 10 for his last 32, with two home runs, three doubles and five RBI.  

The Indians offense has been struggling as of late. With the loss of the red-hot Sizemore and the current injury to Shin-Soo Choo, the Indians will be in search of yet again another backup plan.

Ezequiel Carrera will get most of the playing time in center, while Travis Buck and Austin Kearns share the duties in right.

The Tribe will now be in search of any outfield offensive help they can get. A possible minor league player they could bring up is Jared Head from Triple-A Columbus, batting .295 with 14 home runs and 46 RBI, although he may not be major league ready.

They could also look into the trade market, as I expressed in my last article, to see if they could pick up an outfielder without sacrificing the future of prospects.

The key for the Indians are replacements Carrera, Buck and Kearns stepping up and playing solid productive baseball, to help fill the hole left by Sizemore and Choo.

How things will play out no one may know quite yet, but I wish the Tribe all the best. Roll Tribe!