GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -- Indians All-Star closer Chris Perez could be sidelined one month because of a strained shoulder.
Perez, who saved 39 games last season, will not throw for the next week to 10 days. Once he resumes his program, the Indians estimate he will be pitching in games in three or four weeks.
Indians manager Terry Francona said he wasn't sure whether Perez would be OK for opening day.
"I don't know. One thing, we're going to do is take care of it so it's gone and he can pitch effectively. That's kind of an artificial deadline because when he's good to go, that's when he'll pitch," Francona said.
"He's down for 10 days and then start his throwing program. We'll see where he's at at the end of spring training. If he is good to go, it obviously effects us nothing," he said. "If he's not we'll probably back up Vinnie (Pestano to the closer's role) and back everybody up a little bit. For right now it doesn't change anything in spring training."
The injury will prevent Perez from playing for the United States in the World Baseball Classic.
It is the second straight spring training Perez has been injured. He strained a muscle in his left side during his first bullpen session on Feb. 23 last year but recovered in time for opening day, when he allowed three runs in the ninth against Toronto in a game the Blue Jays won in 16 innings.
Cleveland also said right-hander Frank Hermann sprained a ligament in his pitching elbow on Monday against Oakland and outfielder Michael Brantley could return to limited baseball activities next week.
Billingsley struggles
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Chris Capuano had problems with home runs for the second straight start.
Trying to earn a job in the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation, Capuano allowed long balls to Mike Zunino and Franklin Gutierrez during a three-run third inning Saturday in a 9-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
Capuano started with two perfect innings that included three strikeouts before Zunino homered leading off the third.
The 34-year-old left-hander was 12-12 with a 3.72 ERA in 33 starts last year.
Dodgers reliever Chad Billingsley gave up three runs and five hits in 21/3 innings.
Verlander, Niese shine
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- As Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander walked off the mound at the end of the first inning, he had a few words for a frustrated David Wright.
"I just told him to swing the bat," Verlander said after throwing a called third strike to fan the New York Mets star on three pitches, "I was just joking around with him. We grew up playing against each other. If you're going to have fun with somebody, now is the time."
Verlander toyed with Mets hitters Friday, throwing three perfect innings in the Tigers' 6-2 loss.
Mets starter Jonathon Niese also threw three scoreless innings in his major league exhibition debut. He had thrown two innings against the University of Michigan earlier this week.
Niese gave up three hits, struck out three and picked off a baserunner.
"I felt good," Niese said. "I think, for the most part, all of my pitches felt good."
Third homer for Cabrera
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Miguel Cabrera hit his third home run of the spring and Drew Smyly pitched three perfect innings for a Detroit Tigers split squad in a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
Austin Jackson had one of Detroit's three hits and scored twice.
Two scoreless innings for Nova
TAMPA, Fla. -- Ivan Nova allowed an infield single over two scoreless innings and the New York Yankees stopped a seven-game losing streak by beating a Detroit Tigers split squad 10-3 on Saturday.
Shawn Hill, signed by the Tigers as a minor league free agent last October, gave up two runs and five hits in 22/3 innings. Omar Infante had a third-inning sacrifice fly against David Aardsma.
Raburn homers in loss
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Logan Forsythe had two triples in a seven-run third innings, and the San Diego Padres rallied to beat the Cleveland Indians after starter Edinson Volquez was pounded for six runs in the first.
Forsythe led off the third with a triple off Ubaldo Jimenez. He hit a two-run triple with two outs off Edward Parades.
Volquez gave up six runs and six hits in the first, including a three-run homer by Ryan Raburn. He allowed eight hits overall in two innings.
The Padres scored the go-ahead run in the sixth on a RBI single from Jaff Decker.
White Sox blank Reds
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Jose Quintana got off to a great start again. He knows from experience there's a long way to go.
Quintana, who started strong and faded late as a rookie last season, pitched three perfect innings for the Chicago White Sox in their 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
Joey Votto doubled for Cincinnati, but Bronson Arroyo gave up five hits and two runs in two innings.
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