Hafner set to return again

CLEVELAND — Travis Hafner, who in all likelihood is in his last two weeks in an Indians uniform, is expected to return to action sometime in the six-game homestand that began Tuesday night.

“Hopefully we’ll get him back sometime during this homestand,” Manager Manny Acta said. “We’ll find some at bats for him.”

Hafner hasn’t appeared in a game since Aug. 5. He was placed on the disabled list on Aug. 6 with lower back inflammation. He also spent the entire month of June on the DL with a knee injury. As a result of his injuries Hafner has only had 201 at bats this season, and will finish the year with the second fewest at bats of his 10-year-career in Cleveland.

Hafner this year is hitting .239 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI. The Indians hold a $13 million club option on his contract for 2013, but they are expected to pay the $2.75 million buyout on the option year, which will turn the 35-year-old former slugger into a free agent.

By activating Hafner off the DL it will give some final at bats to the man who ranks eighth on the Indians’ all-time home run list with 200. Hafner also holds the club record for most home runs (186) and RBI (645) by a designated hitter.

For all those reasons, Acta would like to get Hafner into the lineup as much as he can over the club’s last 14 games.

“If you’re you’re fine physically you should play,” Acta said. “We’re obviously a much better team with him in the lineup.”

End of the road

Rafael Perez’s lost season has officially come to an end. Acta said Tuesday that the lefty reliever now has a sore shoulder that will end his season. The Indians say surgery is not being contemplated at this time. Perez has been on the disabled list since April 26 with a strained muscle in his left side, and a few weeks ago he also sustained a sprained ankle.

Once one of the most durable and dependable left-handed relievers in the American League, Perez only appeared in eight games this season. He was 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA.

Asked how much Perez’s absence hurt the Tribe this year Acta said, “It didn’t help. He’s been very reliable the last three years, his ability to get left-handers and right-handers out and pitch in the sixth, seventh or eighth innings. He’s been a steady, left-handed veteran guy in our pen, so we’ve missed him, especially with Tony (Sipp) having a down year.”

Notes

• Jason Donald, who hasn’t played since taking a Justin Verlander fastball off his right wrist on Sept. 14, is available off the bench as a pinch runner.

• Jason Kipnis is the Indians’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. Each team in the majors nominates one player for the award, which recognizes the player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field.

• Acta said when Hafner returns, Russ Canzler who has been the DH, will move to first base, with Casey Kotchman losing some at bats.