CLEVELAND — As expected, reliever Rafael Betancourt (strained groin) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, the latest in a growing number of Indians sidelined by injury.
Betancourt’s departure came a day after the team put three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winning center fielder Grady Sizemore on the injured list with inflammation in his left elbow.
Cleveland has eight players on the DL — the most in the majors behind Tampa Bay’s nine.
“It just keeps coming and coming,” said Indians manager Eric Wedge, whose club is without nine of the players that opened the season on the 25-man roster, most of them on the DL.
Betancourt, who left Sunday’s game after throwing just three pitches, underwent an MRI and was examined by team doctors Monday, with the Indians still awaiting the results at game time.
“It’s probably more than a two-week thing, if you ask me,” said Wedge, whose team recalled Triple-A Columbus left-hander Tony Sipp for his second stint to replace Betancourt.
The Indians are hoping rest will help Sizemore overcome the synovitis (inflammation) in his elbow after a week’s worth of designated hitter duties did not do the trick.
“Our hope is that with the week at designated hitter, parlayed with two weeks off, will help Grady overcome the synovitis and come back to us,” said Cleveland’s head trainer Lonnie Soloff.
If the rest does not help, Soloff said the next step would be arthroscopic surgery, which would sideline Sizemore for 4-6 weeks.
Soloff provided other updates on injured Indians:
♦ Travis Hafner (right shoulder soreness) returned to his rehab assignment with Columbus but the Indians still aren’t satisfied he’s ready for activation. “I think he’s right there on the cusp,” Wedge said. “We’re working off him.” Hafner’s 20-day rehab assignment ends Wednesday. If he is not activated, he could go to extended spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., or continue his rehab in Cleveland.
♦ Jake Westbrook (Tommy John surgery) pitched three innings in an extended spring training game Monday and is scheduled to make his first official rehab start for Double-A Akron on Friday. He is on track to returning to the rotation in late June.
♦ Aaron Laffey (right oblique strain) has begun playing catch and could start working bullpen sessions next week. Though he was pitching in relief at the time of his injury, Wedge said Laffey would rehab as a starter.
♦ Anthony Reyes (right elbow inflammation) will be examined Wednesday in Los Angeles by renowned orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Lewis Yocum, who is expected to support Cleveland’s diagnosis that the right-hander needs surgery. If surgery is required, the procedure will be performed Friday in Los Angeles.
♦ Scott Lewis (left elbow strain) is scheduled to throw a simulated game in Goodyear today. The team’s opening day fifth starter is on a similar time table as Westbrook.
♦ Joe Smith (right rotator cuff strain) made his first rehab appearance Saturday and was scheduled to pitch an inning for Columbus on Monday. There is no target date for his return as of yet.

Tough stuff

Victor Martinez was back in the lineup Monday, missing just one game after sustaining a nasty contusion when he fouled a pitch off his left knee Saturday.
“I would never have thought that was possible,” Wedge said of Martinez’s hasty return. “It just shows how tough he is.”
An MRI performed on the knee revealed no structural damage, which was comforting to Soloff, who at first thought Martinez could have sustained a fracture.
“If you hit it just right, you can fracture the patella (knee cap),” he said. “That would have been devastating.”
Wedge said Martinez would not immediately return to catching, and would DH or play first for the time being.

Next up

The Indians return to the road, beginning a three-game series against Central Division rival Minnesota tonight at 8:10.
David Huff (0-1, 10.97) opens the set, opposing RHP Kevin Slowey
(7-1, 4.11), while Cliff Lee (2-6, 3.16) starts Wednesday (8:10) against RHP Anthony Swarzak (1-1, 2.08).
Fausto Carmona (2-5, 6.60) goes in the series finale for Cleveland on Thursday (1:10 p.m.), while the Twins counter with RHP Scott Baker (2-6, 6.32).

Minor detail

Akron lost its grip on the best record in all of minor league baseball (Triple-A Norfolk, 34-15) through Monday, but the Aeros still owned the best mark of any team on the Class AA level at 32-16.

Roundin’ third

The Indians officially released outfielder David Dellucci, who was designated for assignment Friday.
♦ Lee has produced nine straight quality starts (six innings while allowing three runs or fewer).

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