CLEVELAND -- Shin-Soo Choo's sprained right thumb is giving him no troubles as he ramps up his hitting routine.

"It feels so good, you almost worry," Choo joked.

Choo sprained the thumb diving for a Jack Cust double on July 2. He's been out ever since, but all indications are that he could be back by the end of next week, if he continues to progress as planned.

Choo took about 60 swings in the indoor cages against live pitching before Saturday's doubleheader. He'll take BP outside before Sunday's series finale. He's already participating in full outfield drills.

The Indians will decide on Sunday whether to have Choo accompany them on the trip to Minnesota, where he would continue to participate in pregame work, or send him on a Minor League rehab assignment. Manager Manny Acta said on Friday that he doesn't think a rehab stint will be necessary.

Choo is eligible to come off the DL on Monday.

Kearns hopes rest improves results

CLEVELAND -- Austin Kearns was sputtering a bit heading into the All-Star break, but he's hoping the two-run homer he hit on Friday night is a sign of things to come in the second half.

The Indians have to hope so, too, if they're going to shop Kearns before the Trade Deadline.

Kearns was in an 18-for-91 funk in his last 25 games of the first half. Over that span, he notched just two extra-base hits, a pair of doubles. He looked more like his old self, the guy who became a prominent producer in the middle of the Tribe order, on Friday night.

"Getting your breaks can always help," Kearns said. "As I'm getting a little older, that becomes more apparent. I was a little tired late in the first half. It's ways good to get a break and get your legs under you."

Worth noting

Asdrubal Cabrera (fractured right forearm), playing DH, went 0-for-2 with a run scored and two walks in his second rehab game at Double-A Akron. Cabrera is 4-for-12 with two doubles and two RBIs in four Minor League games thus far. He'll likely get around 30 at-bats before rejoining the Tribe. ... Right-hander Rob Bryson, one of the players acquired in the 2008 CC Sabathia trade, has notched 38 strikeouts in 20 innings at Class A Kinston. ... Triple-A Columbus third baseman Jared Goedert has a 12-game hitting streak and has homered 16 times in 35 games with the Clippers. ... For more on the Tribe, visit the CastroTurf blog (http://castrovince.mlblogs.com).