Cleveland Indians must not rush Andrew Miller back into action

The Cleveland Indians placed Andrew Miller on the 10-day disabled list last week, but he must be given as much time as needed before he returns.

The Cleveland Indians are missing Andrew Miller, but not enough to where he must be rushed back into action.

Miller was placed on the 10-day disabled list on August 2 with patellar tendinitis in his right knee, meaning he is eligible to return this weekend. However, this must only happen if he feels completely healthy.

The Indians enter Tuesday with a three-game lead over the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central even after going 2-4 last week. And while having Miller makes the team better, the two latest losses point to a familiar trend of a lack of offense that would have made Miller’s presence irrelevant anyway.

The fact the tendinitis is in his right knee means Miller may not be able to pitch confidently knowing he may feel pain each time he plants that right foot on his follow-through.

If this was the postseason, Miller would likely be out there. With the season on the line, players have to play through injuries if the pain isn’t unbearable or the damage to the body would be too great.

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Yet as of right now, this lead in the division and a resurgent starting pitching staff means Miller’s presence isn’t as vital as it was last October. At least right now.

The addition of Joe Smith also helped add another veteran arm to a bullpen that lost Boone Logan for the season. Pitching an injured Miller in August and losing him for an extended period of time would be foolish.

There does come a time when Miller must come back even if he is still feeling some pain, but hopefully this rest, and perhaps some more, will get him back to normal.

The expanded rosters in September also help add some bullpen depth if he is not ready.

Miller being placed on the 10-day DL does point to him returning soon, but it doesn’t mean he must return after that short break. He is the most valuable piece to this team’s potential postseason success, and must not be burnt out in August.

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The Indians must obviously get to the postseason for Miller to be a factor there once again, but his bullpen compatriots can hold down the unit until the ace is ready to return.