Jose Ramirez Expected to Give it a Go in Thursday’s Opener

While the Tribe won’t have shortstop Francisco Lindor on Thursday in Minnesota, it looks like they will have their All-Star third basemen in the lineup.

Indians manager Terry Francona said today that Jose Ramirez is ready to go for Thursday’s game, unless there’s a setback at some point Wednesday night or early Thursday.

Having Ramirez is a big key considering that Lindor won’t be available for a longer period of time after the team announced on Wednesday that he suffered an ankle sprain Sunday in a minor league game.

Ramirez had to be carted off the field Sunday after he fouled a ball off the inside of his knee while playing in Glendale with the Tribe against the White Sox.

He stayed back in Arizona to rehab the injury while the team went and played their final two exhibition games in Arlington against the Rangers, but the team remained hopeful he would be able to go in Thursday’s opener.

Tuesday Francona said that Ramirez took ground balls in Arizona, another good sign, and today confirmed that as of now he’s in Thursday’s starting lineup.

It’s a lineup that will need him in a big way with Lindor out, Jason Kipnis out, and an unproven outfield that likely will be made up of Jake Bauers, Leonys Martin and Tyler Naquin.