The Cleveland Indians are starting a crucial stretch tomorrow night with a three game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field.
The Tribe is coming off a terrible start to the second half of the season, dropping five of six to a pair of last place teams from the Bay Area, the A’s and Giants.
This losing streak, which is actually six losses in the last seven games has allowed the Minnesota Twins to creep within a half game of Cleveland, and it has kept the Royals and even the Tigers within shouting distance.
Hitting continues to be an issue for Terry Francona’s bunch, scoring just 16 runs in the six games, with a team batting average of under .200.
The first two games of the series have the Indians starting two pitchers who we are sure Francona and pitching coach Mickey Callaway have no idea what to expect in Trevor Bauer and Danny Salazar.
Bauer didn’t get out of the first inning in his last start and has an ERA of 5.59 for the season. He has completed six innings in just eight of his 18 starts this season.
Salazar has been on the disabled list for awhile and has an ERA of 5.40, and has pitched six innings or more in just three of 10 starts.
Not exactly a great way to start a series in which you really need to play well and start putting games in the win column.
Injuries are also affecting the Tribe, as they are missing 2B Jason Kipnis and OF Lonnie Chisenhall right now, and lost reliever Boone Logan on Wednesday to a lat strain.
The bullpen is also leaking oil a bit, with closer Cody Allen having an ERA of 4.00 since May 1st, and Bryan Shaw has pitched 4-1/3 innings since July 1st, allowing eight hits and six runs, four of them earned.
In short, there’s a lot going wrong for the Cleveland Indians right now. Add to that, the team isn’t sure if Corey Kluber, already moved back from tomorrow to Sunday because of a sore neck, can make that start.
If the Indians want to get it going, solid starts from Bauer and Salazar would go a long way, but the problem is based on history from this season, the bullpen will need to be involved greatly in the first two games.
And we know right now, Francona only has confidence in using his “big three” of Allen, Shaw, and Andrew Miller when he’s ahead and the game is close.
What’s gone right this season?
Jose Ramirez has shown his 2016 season was no fluke, emerging as one of the American League’s best players this season. The best thing about the Indians might be that their best players are 24 (Ramirez) and 23 years of age (Francisco Lindor).
Mike Clevinger is starting to establish himself as a major league starter, and has an ERA of 2.73 over 12 starts.
Bradley Zimmer looks like he can be a good major league player. He’s played very good defense in centerfield, which was needed, but has cooled off a little after a very good start hitting.
And Chisenhall has had a career season to date, although he has missed time due to injuries.
That’s about it.
Still, the Indians have the lead in the division. As Francona says often, this team needs to play a clean game. That means catching the ball, throwing to the right base, and moving runners on offense.
In the six games since the break, they’ve done very little of those things.
They need to rediscover them tonight.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 