Grady Sizemore will have surgery on his left knee next week and is expected to miss at least six to eight weeks.
Cleveland’s three-time all-star has a deep bone bruise in the knee he injured May 16, and the condition and stability of the cartilage beneath his kneecap will be assessed during the arthroscopic operation by Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail.
Steadman pioneered the use of microfracture surgery, which stimulates stem cells to repair and re-grow cartilage. Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said that neither microfracture, nor anything else, had been ruled out.
“The specifics of the surgery won’t be available until after the procedure takes place, so there’ll be some intra-operative decision-making process that determines what Dr. Steadman will do during surgery,” Soloff said.
The surgery hasn’t been scheduled, though it is planned for sometime next week.
“The question isn’t how much cartilage is there, it’s the stability of the cartilage,” Soloff said.
Lidge, Polanco back soon.
The Phillies could have closer Brad Lidge and third baseman Placido Polanco back early this week.
Lidge said his surgically repaired right elbow is ready to go, and tests performed Sunday on Polanco’s ailing left elbow showed no major damage.
“I’m assuming we’re ready to go,” Lidge said.
Cruz lands on DL.
The Rangers have placed outfielder Nelson Cruz on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.
The Rangers were hoping Cruz could avoid his second stint on the DL, but manager Ron Washington says the team put him through tests Sunday and he did not respond well.
Strasburg scheduled for Triple-A.
The Nationals say Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to start again for Triple-A Syracuse at Buffalo on Thursday.
The Nationals have not said when Strasburg, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, will make his major-league debut. It was reported last week they will promote Strasburg for their June 8-10 series against the Pirates.
Footnotes.
Carlos Zambrano will return to the Cubs’ starting rotation Wednesday at Pittsburgh.
• Braves catcher Brian McCann, bothered by a strained right quadriceps, hopes to return to the lineup today against Philadelphia.
The Associated Press
