CLEVELAND — The Indians are confident they won’t have to place Victor Martinez on the disabled list, but they aren’t certain when the catcher will be back behind the plate.
Martinez, who suffered a mild hamstring strain in the season opener Monday, was not in the lineup Wednesday against the White Sox, but was available for pinch-hitting duties — a role he might be relegated to for a spell.
“We’re hopeful it’s not going to be any more than a day-to-day thing,” said Cleveland manager Eric Wedge.
Martinez said he hit in the cage, threw and rode the stationary bike prior to Wednesday’s game and was feeling better, but would not predict a timetable for his return to catching.
“We’ll see,” said Martinez, when asked if he would be back in the lineup for projected warmer weather in Oakland this weekend. “The bottom line is that I’m feeling a lot better.”
Martinez said the injury was not as serious as the quadriceps he strained on opening day last year, an ailment that caused him to miss close to two weeks.
The Indians are fortunate to possess a quality backup in Kelly Shoppach, who filled in for Martinez in the opener and started Wednesday.
“It’s huge for us,” Wedge said of Shoppach, who hit .261 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 59 games last year and possesses one of the majors’ best arms. “This is a guy that’s really worked hard to get better in all areas of his game. The relationship he and Victor have is a big part of it. They push each other to get better.”  

Sizemore matters

If Grady Sizemore’s major league-leading consecutive games streak (360) comes to an end this year, it might be thanks to his manager.
Sizemore has played in all of Cleveland’s games the past two seasons, but Wedge said he would not employ his center fielder just to keep the streak alive this year.
“Every year there’s a couple games he doesn’t start, and there will be days like that again this year,” Wedge said. “If we need him to play, he’ll play. If not, he won’t play.”

Indian uprising

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the seven-run second inning the Indians produced in their season-opening victory over the White Sox was the second-highest total by a Cleveland team in a single inning during the first game of the year.
The record belongs to the 1925 Indians team, which scored 12 runs in the eighth inning of a 21-14 road victory over the St. Louis Browns on April 14.  

Roundin’ third

Cleveland’s 267-219 (.549) record from 2005-07 ranks fifth in the majors to the Mets (268-218, .551), Red Sox (277-209, .570), Angels (278-208, .572) and Yankees (286-200, .588).
• ESPN has picked up home games against Boston (April 14, 7:05 p.m.) and the Yankees (April 28, 7:05), with SportsTime Ohio still providing local coverage of both.
• Saturday’s game at Oakland (4:05) is the only game on the schedule that will not be televised.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. 

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