Cleveland Indians place Nick Swisher, Carlos Santana on disabled list

Apr 28, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Cleveland Indians designated hitter Carlos Santana (right) is congratulated by first baseman Nick Swisher (33) after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Cleveland Indians designated hitter Carlos Santana (right) is congratulated by first baseman Nick Swisher (33) after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Indians placed two starters on the disabled list on Tuesday as the club put first baseman Nick Swisher on the 15-day disabled list due to a hyperextended left knee and third baseman/catcher Carlos Santana was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list.

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In corresponding moves, the Indians recalled infielder Jesus Aguilar and catcher George Kottaras from Triple-A Columbus.

Aguilar figures to get some starts at first base with Swisher on the shelf with the possibility Either Jason Giambi or Ryan Raburn could see a spot start at first.

Kottaras will backup starting catcher Yan Gomes for the week and Lonnie Chisenhall should be the team’s every day starter at third base with Santana shelved for at least a week with his concussion.

The Indians rank seventh in MLB in runs and are fifth in on-base percentage despite getting next to nothing from Swisher and Santana who are expected to be the club’s leaders on offense along with Michael Brantley who is enjoying a breakout season that should result in him being at the All-Star Game this summer.

Swisher is hitting .211 with 17 runs scored, three home runs and 19 runs batted in. Santana has been worse as he’s hitting .159 but he is tied for third on the team with 23 runs scored, tied for second with six home runs and has 17 runs batted in.

The Indians are 24-28 and in last place in the American League Central division. The Tribe are 6.5 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers and are only 1.5 games behind the second place Chicago White Sox in a jumbled division.

If the Indians can get anything out of these two, they could make the division race in the central an interesting one down the stretch.