MINNEAPOLIS -- Andrew Miller did not expect any setbacks to be discovered when he traveled to New York to seek a second opinion on his right knee on Tuesday. The Indians reliever rejoined the team with exactly what he hoped to receive: some peace of mind.
Prior to Thursday's game against the Twins, Miller expressed that it was good to hear Dr. David Altchek confirm the team's diagnosis of inflammation in his landing knee. More than anything, the left-hander feels the problem has been poor mechanics -- not pain -- and Miller is eager to move aggressively through his throwing program in order to return as soon as possible from the disabled list.
"I'm still playing catch. I threw flat-ground today," Miller said. "I think the idea is to hopefully be off the mound while we're here in Minnesota. That's my hope. I don't know if they'll agree with that, but the goal is to keep going."
Miller said he has met with pitching coach Carl Willis, bullpen coach Scott Atchison and members of the Indians' front office to dissect what may have contributed to his mechnical issues, which likely led to the left hamstring strain that sent him to the DL in April. Miller noted that he needs to stay on top of his knee strengthening exercises, adding that taping the knee is becoming a part of his daily routine now.
"I haven't had [pain in the knee] this year," said Miller, who had a pair of DL stints last season due to the same knee. "I think it's more a matter of me going out there and being stronger and being able to kind of go through my mechanics in the way I want to. Basically, I felt like my lower half just wasn't doing what it needed to do. I wasn't sticking my foot in the ground and driving into it and throwing the way I needed to.
"Whether that was purely a confidence thing or whether there's something I can do to get better, we're working through that. But, I think I can already tell from my catch the last few days and what I did today, that I think we're in a really good place. It's just a matter of me getting repetitions."
Unlike with his return from the hamstring injury earlier this month, Miller fully expects a Minor League rehab assignment to be part of his comeback plan this time around.
"I don't think I'm going to be talking them out of it this time," Miller said. "I think there's no doubt that that's part of the process this time. I'll have to jump through those hoops and hopefully they'll go really well. The expectation is that they will. As far as when we get there, I don't know. But, hopefully sooner than later."
Worth noting
• Indians manager Terry Francona noted that outfielder Bradley Zimmer (left rib contusion) is scheduled to be activated from the 10-day DL prior to Friday's game against the Twins. Zimmer will assume the active roster spot of rookie Shane Bieber, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Columbus on Thursday for a spot start against the Twins.

Outfielders Lonnie Chisenhall (10-day DL, right calf) and Brandon Guyer (10-day DL, neck strain) are also on pace for activation on Tuesday, per Francona. At that juncture, the Indians will need to make some decisions about their outfield, which currently has Rajai Davis, Melky Cabrera and Greg Allen being mixed and matched.
"We know we have some decisions coming," Francona said. "We talk about it daily. A lot happens in four days, as we've seen, but we want to at least be organized with our thoughts. We'll figure it out."
• In order to add Bieber to the 40-man roster for Thursday's game, the Indians transferred reliever Nicholas Goody (right elbow) to the 60-day DL. Goody, who injured his elbow on May 3, has resumed light throwing, but there is no established timetable for his return to the Tribe bullpen. Reliever Ben Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Columbus to vacate a spot for Bieber on the active roster.
• Danny Salazar (60-day DL, right shoulder impingement) met with the Indians' head physician, Dr. Mark Schickendantz, on Wednesday and received a cortisone shot. There were no changes identified in the results of images of Salazar's arm, but he has been shut down for five-to-seven days from throwing.
• Due to off-days looming on Monday and June 7, the Indians will not need a fifth starter again until their June 12 game against the White Sox. Adam Plutko appears to be the front-runner for that assignment, but Bieber could also conceivably be in the mix.
• Starter Cody Anderson (60-day DL, right elbow) was recently re-examined by Dr. Keith Meister due to a "dead arm" period, per Francona. Anderson's checkup went well, but he was instructed to stop throwing for three weeks before resuming his throwing program.
• Reliever Oliver Drake, who was designated for assignment by the Indians on Saturday to clear room for Cabrera, was claimed off waivers by the Angels on Thursday.