The Cleveland Indians are optimistic that the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber will be able to return before the end of this season from right hamstring strain.

The Indians ace is indefintely out as team manager Terry Francona said that they will not rely too much on a timetable and just let him pitch when he's ready, according to MLB.com.

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The 29-year-old Kluber tweaked his hamstring initially during a mound session and aggravated it trying to run through conditioning drills.

n 28 starts this season, Kluber has gone 8-13 with a 3.41 ERA, 219 strikeouts and 38 walks in 200 1/3 innings. He also ranked fourth among AL pitchers with a 5.2 WAR entering Friday.

With Kluber scratched from his scheduled start Friday against the Detroit Tigers, right-hander Josh Tomlin stepped in tossed a four-hitter in all nine innings of the Indians' 8-1 win.

It was the third complete game for Tomlin, who was only on his fifth start of the season after shoulder surgery.

Francona said they've always known all year that they could rely on Tomlin to provide some serious help down the stretch.

Of course, the Indians also got a lot of help from right fielder Jerry Sands who homered, tripled and score twice.

The Indians also got a big fifth inning with four RBIs courtesy of Giovanny Urshela, Michael Brantley, Yan Gomes and Abraham Almonte.

On Saturday's second game against the Tigers, righty Danny Salazar made his scheduled start lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and a walk in the Indians' 6-0 loss.

Cody Anderson, another right hander, pitched seven strong innings when he started Indians' 4-0 game three win on Sunday, ESPN reported.  

TagsCleveland Indians, American League, mlb, Cy Young Award, Corey Kluber, hamstring strain, MLB Injuries