The Cleveland Indians starting rotation took another blow yesterday when it was announced that Carlos Carrasco, one of baseball’s best starting pitchers over the past four seasons, has a blood disorder and will be out indefinitely.
First of all, let’s all hope the illness is not serious and Carrasco will make a full recovery.
His absence gets added to fellow starters Corey Kluber (broken arm) and Mike Clevinger (shoulder/back muscle issue), and turns the strength of the team into a mess.
The only starters now remaining from the beginning of the season are Trevor Bauer and Shane Bieber, who might be the Tribe’s best starting pitcher this year with a 3.57 ERA in 13 appearances.
However, Carrasco’s not being with the team doesn’t change our stance on the future of the 2019 season for the Cleveland Indians.
As of today, while it is true the Tribe is 10.5 games out of the lead in the AL Central, they are only two games out of the second wild card spot.
Until they mathematically fall further behind any chance of a post-season spot, we have a problem giving up on a season.
Can you imagine how excited an Indians’ fan in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s would have been had the Tribe been a game out of a playoff spot in early June?
If you were around then, you are probably like us and think cashing in the season at this point is simply ludicrous.
We guess fans have gotten spoiled since Jacobs Field/Progressive Field opened up 25 years ago.
After this weekend’s series against the Yankees, here is who the Tribe plays until the All Star break on July 8th:
June 11th and 12th: Cincinnati (28-32)
June 14th-16th: Detroit (23-35)
June 17th-20th: Texas (31-28)
June 21st-23rd: Detroit again
June 24th-26th: Kansas City (19-42)
June 28th-30th: Baltimore (19-42)
July 2nd-4th: Kansas City again
July 6th and 7th: Cincinnati again
As you can see, Texas is the only above .500 team Cleveland will play over a four week stretch, and only the Reds are close to the break even mark.
Yes, we know the Indians have struggled against some bad teams (KC and Miami most notably) this season, but wouldn’t you bank on making up some ground in the standings before the Midsummer Classic?
Even after the break, there are five games the rest of July with Minnesota and Houston, but the balance of the schedule is more of the Tigers, Royals, and Blue Jays.
We haven’t changed our mind about dealing Trevor Bauer either. As we said a few days ago, a deal like that could save the 2019 season, if you can acquire some hitting.
The pitching could be good enough with Bieber and the hopefully soon return of Clevinger, and maybe the Tribe caught some lightning in a bottle with Zack Plesac.
Another good thing about the upcoming schedule is four off days between now the the All Star Game, which could minimize the need for a fifth starter.
We understand the Indians have had issues with some of the bottom teams in the league this year, but if they can start playing a little better, getting a little more offense, they have a good opportunity to make up some ground.
Soon, the schedule will be the Indians’ friend. That’s a good enough reason to not start looking toward 2020.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 