Fukudome in Indians’ lineup

CLEVELAND — Kosuke Fukudome picked up 13 games in the standings in one day.

That’s why the 34-year-old outfielder waived his no-trade clause and agreed to Thursday’s deal that sent him from the Chicago Cubs to the Cleveland Indians for two minor leaguers.

“The Indians are competing for first place,” he said after taking batting practice with his new teammates prior to Friday night’s game with Kansas City. “It’s great motivation for me to play for a team in the pennant race. This is something I really wanted to do.”

The Indians trail Detroit by 1½ games in the AL Central while the Cubs are 14½ games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central.

Fukudome, who starred in Japan from 1999-2007, batted sixth and played right field Friday. His presence created quite a stir at Progressive Field. Several Japanese reporters and photographers were on hand to chronicle every move he made from hitting in the batting cage to catching fly balls. Fukudome also travels with his personal translator, Hiro Aoyama.

Fukudome, a left-handed hitter, is batting .273 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 87 games this season. He has drawn 46 walks and has a .374 on-base percentage.

The Indians hope Fukudome can help their struggling offense, which was no-hit by the Angels’ Ervin Santana on Wednesday, and is playing without the injured Shin-Soo Choo and Grady Sizemore. Cleveland has lost six of seven and has scored 13 runs in that span.

“He makes us better immediately,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He’s a professional hitter. That’s all I want.”

The Cubs received outfielder Abner Abreu and right-hander Carlton Smith in the trade.

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti is looking to add more offensive help before Sunday’s 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline.

“These guys are non-stop working,” Acta said of the efforts Cleveland’s front office is making on the trade front. “We’ll see. It’s a very complicated process.”

Acta said Choo, who broke his left thumb after being hit by a pitch on June 24, might begin taking batting practice in a week to 10 days.