CLEVELAND — Fausto Carmona took another positive step, but it wasn’t a big enough one to return to the Indians rotation.
Carmona, a former 19-game winner who was demoted to rookie ball in Goodyear, Ariz., after extended struggles on the big league level, worked his second straight impressive rehab appearance Tuesday — one run on four hits with five strikeouts in seven innings for Double-A Akron.
The Indians don’t know where Carmona will pitch next, but manager Eric Wedge said it wouldn’t be with his club.
“Our next step is to decide what our next step is,” Wedge said. “Does he stay (at Double-A Akron) or does he go somewhere else? He wouldn’t be back here right away.”
Wedge wants to see more from Carmona, who sputtered to a 2-6 record and 7.42 ERA, walking 41 and striking out only 36 over 602/3 innings in 12 starts with the Indians before being demoted.
He was asked if he saw the 25-year-old returning to the rotation in the next 10 days.
“I don’t want to rule out anything, but I don’t want to put any type of timetable on it,” he said. “We’ve been very consistent with what we’re trying to do.”

Shopp talk

With Kelly Shoppach (.200, 6 HRs, 19 RBIs, 52 strikeouts in 47 games through Tuesday) still struggling at the plate, Victor Martinez has been handling the bulk of the catching duties lately.
Entering Wednesday, Martinez, who was expected to catch far less this year, had started 38 times behind the plate to Shoppach’s 41.
“I’m very comfortable with him being back there, as long as we get a little more out of him offensively,” Wedge said of Shoppach.

Wounded Wahoos

Rafael Betancourt (right groin strain) threw a simulated game at Progressive Field and could begin a rehab assignment Friday at Triple-A Columbus.
♦ Jake Westbrook (right elbow surgery) is scheduled to begin a return-to-throw program today, with hopes of beginning another rehab assignment and joining Cleveland’s rotation by late July or early August.
♦ Aaron Laffey (right oblique strain) will make his fourth rehab and what could be his final rehab appearance Friday at Columbus.

Next up

The Indians are off today, wrapping up their homestand with a three-game series against Oakland that begins Friday at 7:05.
David Huff (3-3, 6.26) opens the set for Cleveland, opposing RHP Trevor Cahill (5-6, 4.23), while Carl Pavano (6-7, 5.56) squares off against RHP Vin Mazzaro (2-3, 2.95) on Saturday (7:05 p.m.).
Cliff Lee (4-7, 3.39) will go for the Indians in the series finale Sunday (1:05 p.m.), while the A’s counter with LHP Brett Anderson (4-7, 5.45).

Minor detail

Akron will be represented by five players — infielder Beau Mills (.256, 6 HRs, 40 RBIs through Tuesday) catcher Carlos Santana (.269, 11 HRs, 47 RBIs), outfielder Nick Weglarz (.252, 12 HRs, 55 RBIs) and right-handed pitchers Hector Rondon (7-4, 2.59) and Vinnie Pestano (2-3, 3.26, 21 saves) at the Eastern League All-Star Game on July 15 in Trenton, N.J.

Roundin’ third

Travis Hafner entered Wednesday batting .364 (12-for-33) with three homers and nine RBIs over his last 12 games. Since being activated from the disabled list on June 5, Hafner was hitting .318 with four homers and 10 RBIs in 16 games through Tuesday.
♦ Grady Sizemore entered Wednesday batting .222 (6-for-27) with a homer and eight RBIs in seven games since being activated from the injured list.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136
or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

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