An MRI on Indians All-Star closer Brad Hand's left arm came back clean, but manager Terry Francona said he will likely not be available for this weekend's series against AL Central leader Minnesota.
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The Indians wanted Hand, 29, checked because his velocity had been decreasing the past couple outings. He is 6-4 with a 3.34 ERA but has struggled since the All-Star break. Four of his five blown saves have come since July 12, and he has a 5.68 ERA during the second half.
Opposing hitters are batting .321 against Hand compared to .200 the first half of the season. Four of the six home runs he has allowed have come in the past two months.
"He's had a tired arm. He hasn't been bouncing back," Francona said. "We'll have to piece things together the next day or two but hopefully it is not more than that. When you start having an MRI on someone who has thrown as much as he has though and it comes back that clean, it makes you feel good."