Andrew Miller might need brace on right knee

Left-handed reliever Andrew Miller, a cornerstone of the Indians bullpen, might have to wear a brace on his chronically sore right knee once he returns to the lineup. Manager Terry Francona isn’t precisely sure when that will be.

Miller made 11 appearances totaling 10 innings without allowing a run until a hamstring injury suffered April 25 landed him on the disabled his. He returned to the lineup on May 11 and pitched six more games before a knee injury forced the Indians to place him on the DL again. He gave up a total of seven runs, all earned, in three of those six games.

Francona told reporters in Detroit that Miller threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session on June 8. That’s a heavy load, more than in any of the 17 games he has pitched this season.

“Where it goes from here, I don’t think we know,” Francona said. “Obviously, he’s going to have to throw more.

“One, we just want to see how he bounces back, first of all, because that’s one of the huge challenges. And then, if he’s bouncing back, then you can start to think, OK, working on his pitches, locating, things like that that are kind of fun to talk about, as opposed to just health.”

Francona is hoping Miller can succeed without the brace. But the trainers are experimenting with the notion if they think it will help.

“I know that they were talking about getting some braces in,” Francona said “I don’t know if they’ve come yet or if he’s worn them, but the fact that he’s throwing the bullpen without it, I think, is a good sign.

“Long-term, they’ve talked about a few different things. I don’t think they’ve gotten to that yet. They’re trying to feel like he can do it without it, which is a good thing.”

Francona isn’t certain if Miller will need a minor league rehab assignment before being activated.