Indians outfielder Choo back on DL

CLEVELAND (AP) - Only a few hours into the season's final month, the Cleveland Indians have already added another name to their overflowing disabled list.

Outfielder Shin Soo-Choo's rocky season has hit another bump.

Choo was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained side muscle Thursday by the Indians, yet another injury the team will have to overcome as it tries to stay in the playoff chase.

The Indians are already missing outfielders Grady Sizemore and Michael Brantley, slugger Travis Hafner, pitchers Josh Tomlin and Carlos Carrasco and second baseman Jason Kipnis. Still, manager Manny Acta has patched his team up, and using several rookies, has kept his team in contention.

Cleveland begins September just 5 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

Choo first hurt himself making a check swing during an at-bat on Aug. 23 in the second game of a doubleheader against Seattle. He sat out a few games and returned last Saturday before irritating the injury.

The latest trip to the DL is another setback for Choo, who spent seven weeks on the DL after undergoing surgery on a broken thumb. He also was arrested on drunken-driving charges. Choo is batting .260 with eight homers and 36 RBIs in 84 games _ not the kind of numbers the Indians were expecting from Choo, who was the only AL player to bat .300, hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in 2010.

Needing fresh arms in the bullpen after playing 16 innings on Wednesday, the Indians recalled right-hander Corey Kluber and lefty Nick Hagadone from Triple-A Columbus.

Kluber went 7-10 with a 5.65 ERA in 26 starts for the Clippers. The 25-year-old was acquired last year in a three-team trade.

Hagadone is beginning his second stint with the Indians. He went a combined 6-4 with a 2.79 ERA at Double-A Akron and Columbus.

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