KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Manager Manny Acta expects that Grady Sizemore and Jason Kipnis will come off the disabled list sometime this week and rejoin the Indians.

Sizemore played center field and went 1-for-5 Saturday night with an RBI in a rehab start with Class AAA Columbus. He'll have Sunday off and it would not be a shock if he joins the Indians on Monday in Cleveland in time to face the Tigers in the opening of a big three-game series against Detroit.

While Sizemore has been out since July 18 with a bruised right knee and the after effects of hernia surgery, Kipnis has only been on the disabled list since Aug. 19 with a strained right hamstring and right oblique muscle. He was eligible to be activated Aug. 29.

"At some point this week we hope to add both of them to our team," said Acta.

Kipnis has been working out at Progressive Field with Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer. It's unclear if he'd have to go on a rehab assignment before being activated.

"He's on target," said Acta, referring to Kipnis. "He took the ground balls and didn't feel any pain. He's continuing to work with Lonnie."

Travis Hafner (strained right foot) is getting closer as well.

"Travis needs to progress to batting practice on the field and baseball activities," said Acta. "We're expecting him to be joining us. I don't think he's as close as Kipnis and Grady because they're doing baseball activities."

Acta said if Kipnis returns with no restrictions, he'll reclaim the starting second base job from Jason Donald.

"He's our second baseman if he's healthy," said Acta. "When he went down, he was playing every day for us."

The Indians fell to 6 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central following Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Royals. Even if Sizemore, Kipnis and Hafner return, it could be a case of too little too late to catch the Tigers.

"You know when it's going to be too little too late?" asked Acta. "When they put an X next to our name in the standings. That's what I think."

An X next to a team's name in the MLB standings means that they've been eliminated from postseason contention. After Sunday the Indians have 25 games left in the regular season.

Today's lineups:

Indians (69-67): CF Ezequiel Carrera (L), RF Kosuke Fukudome (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), 1B Carlos Santana (S), DH Shelley Duncan (R), 2B Jason Donald (R), 3B Jack Hannahan (L), C Lou Marson (R), LF Jerad Head (R), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (1-2, 4.55).

Royals (58-82): LF Alex Gordon (L), CF Melky Cabrera (S), DH Billy Butler (R), 1B Eric Hosmer (L), 2B Johnny Giavotella (R), 3B Mike Moustakas (L), Brayan Pena (S), RF Mitch Maier (L), SS Chris Getz (L), LHP Jeff Francis (5-14, 4.64).

Lineup note: Asdrubal Cabrera, after missing Saturday night's game with a bruised left knee, was back in the Tribe's lineup on Sunday. Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar misses his second straight games after stepping on first baseman Carlos Santana's foot on the bag Friday night. He twisted his left ankle.

Umpires: H Tim Welke, 1B Andy Fletcher, 2B Jim Reynolds, 3B Mike DiMuro. Welke, crew chief.

Him vs. me: Maier is 5-for-7 with a triple against Gomez. Duncan is 2-for-2 with a double off Francis.

Lefty-righty: Lefties are hitting .323 (20-for-62) with one homer and righties are hitting .313 (20-for-64) with three homers against Gomez. The Royals have seven lefties in the lineup, including one switch-hitter.

Lefties are hitting .248 (39-for-157) with two homers and righties are hitting .304 (159-for-523) with 15 homers against Francisco. The Indians have six right-handers, including two switch-hitters, in the lineup.

Quote of the day: "If it's still going on in a week, then I'll be concerned," former Indians manager Mike Hargrove.

Next: Ubaldo Jimenez faces Detroit's Doug Fister on Monday night at Progressive Field in the start of critical three-game series for the Indians. WTAM/STO will carry the game.