Kipnis to return from DL today

Jason Kipnis has been cleared to return to the Indians’ lineup after spending nearly a month on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.

Barring a late setback, Kipnis will return at second base Aug. 6 when the Indians wrap up a fourgame series with the Yankees at Progressive Field. Kipnis went on the DL on July 9.

“He played last night (in Columbus),” Indians manager Terry Francona said Aug. 5 before the Indians played the Yankees. “He faced a left-handed knuckleballer. I’m sure he was thrilled about that. I thought one more game would do him some good. He had to sprint about four times, which was good.”

Kipnis is having a rough season. After missing only six games all of 2016, Kipnis has already missed 42 of 108 games this season. He started the season on this disabled list recovering from a shoulder injury. He is hitting .232 with eight home runs and 26 RBI.

A roster move will have to be made to clear a spot for Kipnis. Giovanny Urshela, Erik Gonzalez and outfielder Abraham Almonte are candidates to be sent to Columbus.

Francona plans to ease Kipnis back into the grind of August baseball.

“I don’t think he’s going to play 10 in a row,” Francona said. “We’re going to use common sense. We don’t want to run him into the ground. Once you start playing, sometimes guys don’t want a day off because their bodies are used to it. But when you’ve missed some time, you have to be careful.”

The Indians are off Aug. 7 before starting a two-game series with the