Infielder Asdrubal Cabrera will begin an injury rehab at Class AA Akron on Tuesday. Cabrera has been on the disabled list since June 3 with a strained left shoulder.

Outfielder Grady Sizemore has been on the disabled list since May 31 with an inflamed left elbow. Sizemore took batting practice and did some throwing over the weekend. It's possible he could be activated this week.

The Indians could use a boost. They are a season-high 13 games under .500 and a season-high 10 games out of first place in the AL Central.

The Pirates series will feature the return to the rotation of right-hander Carl Pavano, who is scheduled to start Wednesday night's game. It will be Pavano's first start in nine days. His turn in the rotation was pushed back a few days due to soreness in his right shoulder.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Indians are 2-24 when scoring three runs or less and 27-18 when scoring four runs or more.

--The Indians' bullpen woes are best reflected by their trouble in the eighth inning. The Indians have been outscored in the eighth inning 65-32 through June 21.

--LHP Jeremy Sowers' loss Sunday to the Cubs dropped his record to 1-5 with a 5.95 ERA. In six appearances (five starts) since his recall from Class AAA Columbus on May 23, he is 1-3 with a 4.15 ERA.

BY THE NUMBERS: 13 -- Number of blown saves by the Indians' bullpen through June 21. That's the most blown saves in the American League.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's got to get his head on straight." -- Manager Eric Wedge on slumping INF Jhonny Peralta.

ROSTER REPORT

--INF Asdrubal Cabrera will begin an injury rehab assignment with Class AA Akron on Tuesday. Cabrera has been on the disabled list since June 3 with a sprained left shoulder.

--OF Grady Sizemore, who has been on the disabled list since May 29 with an inflamed left elbow, could be activated this week. Sizemore accompanied the team to Chicago over the weekend and did some hitting and throwing.

--DH Travis Hafner is limited to pinch-hitting duties on the Indians' current trip to play the Cubs in Chicago and the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Hafner, who missed a month earlier this season with a sore right shoulder, is hitting .355 with three home runs and nine RBIs in his last 11 games.

--LHP Aaron Laffey will make his second rehab start for Class AA Akron on Tuesday. Laffey has been on the disabled list since May 23 with a strained right oblique.

MEDICAL WATCH:

DH Travis Hafner (right shoulder soreness) will be limited to pinch-hitting duties on the Indians' current road trip.

INF/OF Ryan Garko (sprained left wrist) did not play June 21. He is day-to-day.

OF Grady Sizemore (strained left elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list May 31. An MRI on June 15 showed some improvement, and he could return by June 27.

INF/OF Mark DeRosa (sore left leg) was scratched from the lineup June 20, although he appeared as a pinch hitter.

RHP Carl Pavano (sore right elbow) had his June 20 start pushed back to June 24.

LHP Aaron Laffey (right oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list May 23. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Columbus on June 18.

SS Asdrubal Cabrera (sprained left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list June 3. He will start a rehab assignment with Class AA Akron on June 23 and could be activated in late June.

RHP Rafael Betancourt (strained right groin) went on the 15-day disabled list June 1. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.

RHP Jake Westbrook (Tommy John surgery in June 2008) went on the 60-day disabled list March 26. He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Akron on June 6, but he had a setback and was scratched from his June 17 start. He won't pitch again before mid-July.

RHP Scott Lewis (strained left elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list April 11, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 17. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Lake County on June 11.