Indians' Sizemore back on the DL

CLEVELAND (AP)

Grady Sizemore's comeback has changed directions. He's back on the disabled list.

Sizemore was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a bruised right knee, an injury he sustained on a hard slide into second base last week.

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In Kansas City, where the Indians began a two-game series on Monday night, trainer Lonnie Soloff said the team hoped the three-time All-Star would not be out long.

''The good news is the extent of it is extremely mild,'' Solooff said. ''So we're hopeful the amount of time disabled is on the short end of 15 days.''

Healing of such bruises, he added, ''can take 48 hours (or) 15 days.''

Sizemore, who missed most of last season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee, stayed in Cleveland to get treatment while the Indians began a four-day road trip to Kansas City and Chicago.

Sizemore was not in the lineup all weekend, when the Indians had consecutive games against Seattle postponed by rain. On Friday, manager Manny Acta said the team did not believe Sizemore would have to go back on the DL, but after five days of treatment, the club made the move before opening a short series against the Royals.

''He's progressed over the last five days,'' Soloff said. ''However, it's not progressed enough for us to feel comfortable, or for him to feel comfortable about his ability to play the outfield. We felt the most prudent course was to place him on the 15-day DL and give it time to heel and to progress unrestrited by baseball activities.''

Travis Buck was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to take Sizemore's spot.

An MRI taken last week on Sizemore's knee was mostly clear, and the team had hoped rest and rehab would get him back in the lineup. Last week, Sizemore said the knee hurt in a ''similar place'' to where he injured his left knee, the one he had operated on last June.

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Sizemore said the tests showed he had only a bruised kneecap, which was a huge relief to him and the club. It is not known if he will have additional tests.

The 28-year-old played in only 33 games last season, and he wasn't activated until April 17 year. In the 18 games he was in the lineup, Sizemore has looked like his old self, batting .282 with six homers, 10 doubles, 11 RBIs and scoring 15 runs.

His left knee didn't appear to be bothering him at all, and his speed looked normal while tracking fiy balls in the outfield.

The Indians don't want to take any chances with Sizemore, and he has learned to be patient while recovering from his operation, a procedure no one was really certain would work.

Last week, Sizemore admitted feeling scared after getting hurt. He also made it clear he would not rush back and play until he was 100-percent ready.

''Obviously after last year, you don't want to have to go through any injuries,'' he said. ''But with what I had last year is the reason why we're taking this slow and making sure we're OK. I understand it. My goal is to be here all year and finish the season here, not to push through it and make something worse.''

He's learned to take care of his body the hard way. Before spraining an ankle in 2008, Sizemore played in 382 consecutive games. He didn't miss a game in 2006 or 2007, and has always played with an all-out, aggressive mentality.

Buck started the season with Cleveland but was sent to the minors when Sizemore returned. He batted .241 in 10 games with the Indians. In Columbus, he was hitting .333 with three homers and 21 RBIs in 18 games.