The Cleveland Indians will be without manager Terry Francona for the second time this season. Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Indians without Terry Francona for at least another three games

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/18/20

The Cleveland Indians will be without manager Terry Francona for the second time this season.

Per Mandy Bell of MLB.com, the Indians confirmed on Tuesday that the two-time American League Manager of the Year didn't travel with the club for a three-game series at the Pittsburgh Pirates because he has a "scheduled procedure" this week.

Former Cleveland catcher and current coach Sandy Alomar Jr. will fill in for Francona as he did earlier this month:

Terry Francona did not make the trip to Pittsburgh. He has a scheduled procedure this week. Sandy Alomar Jr. will manage this series. The team expects Tito to be back with the Tribe for the series against Detroit on Friday.
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) August 18, 2020

Francona, who guided the Boston Red Sox to a pair of World Series titles during his tenure with that club, was sidelined for eight games from Aug. 2 through Aug. 10 due to what the Indians referred to as a gastrointestinal issue not related to COVID-19.

The earliest Francona, 61, will return would be Friday for a series versus division rivals the Detroit Tigers held in Cleveland. If he is back in the dugout Friday evening, he will have missed 11 of 60 potential games during the pandemic-shortened campaign.

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