The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Cleveland Indians – INSIDE PITCH
The Indians are in a free fall. Their latest loss was 4-1 in Detroit on Sunday, the Indians’ seventh loss in a row. That’s part of a bigger slide that has also seen them lose 11 in a row on the road. Since May 21 the Indians’ record is 4-15.
During that stretch it has been a total team collapse. The most surprising trouble spot has been the offense. For much of the first part of the season the Indians ranked at or near the top of the American League in many offensive categories.
That has changed during their losing streak as all facets of the offense have been in shutdown mode. During their seven-game losing streak the Indians are averaging just 3.4 runs per game while hitting .219 as a team, with a .223 batting average with runners in scoring position.
Almost every hitter in the lineup is in a slump of varying degrees, but it is the hitters in the middle of the lineup whose slumps have hurt the most. First baseman Nick Swisher snapped an 0-for-26 slide with a single Sunday, but he remains mired in an even bigger slump in which he is hitting .034 (1-for-29) in the month.
Third baseman Mark Reynolds, who leads the team in RBIs, is hitting .120 this month. Left fielder Michael Brantley is hitting .173, and catcher Yan Gomes is hitting .176.
The offensive malaise coincides with the Indians going through a portion of their schedule in which they are playing some of the best teams in the league, with some of the best pitchers in the league. Since May 21 the Indians have played the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, and Tigers.
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MLB Team Report – Cleveland Indians – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 30-32
STREAK: Lost seven
PAST 10 GAMES: 2-8
NEXT: Indians (LHP Scott Kazmir, 3-3, 5.24) at Rangers (RHP Alexi Ogando, 4-2, 2.93)
PLAYER NOTES:
–RHP Carlos Carrasco dropped his appeal of his MLB suspension for “intentionally throwing” at New York’s Kevin Youkilis in April and began serving it Sunday. Carrasco, Saturday’s losing pitcher after being recalled from Triple-A Columbus earlier in the day, had his penalty reduced from eight games to seven. He will be eligible to return for the home series against Kansas City that begins June 17.
–LHP Scott Kazmir makes his first start since June 4 when he faces Texas on Monday. He gave up four runs in six innings in his last outing, a 4-3 loss at New York. Kazmir has pitched well at Rangers Ballpark in his career, going 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in seven starts. He has been particularly effective against Rangers slugger Adrian Beltre (.217) but Texas is 12-8 against left-handed starters this season.
–RHP Chris Perez (right shoulder soreness) will throw off the mound in Cleveland on Tuesday as he continues his rehab program. Perez, who was placed on the disabled list May 27, has played catch in recent days without any discomfort. The club expects Perez to return shortly after the 15-day period is up and resume closing duties.
–RHP Matt Langwell was called up from Triple-A Columbus on June 1 and solidified his spot with two solid outings against the Tigers. Langwell pitched three scoreless innings during the first two games of the series, giving up one hit and striking out three. Getting ahead on the count has been key to his success. He hasn’t given up a hit after throwing a first-pitch strike.
–SS Mike Aviles has impressed manager Terry Francona with his defense as Asdrubal Cabrera’s fill-in while Cabrera recovers from a right quad strain. “You lose a guy like Cabrera and you’ve got a guy that you’re comfortable playing every day and plays a major league shortstop, that’s a pretty compliment,” he said. Aviles, who had a six-game hitting streak snapped Saturday, has also contributed with his bat. He went 0-for-3 on Sunday and but still has a . 264 average with three homers and 18 RBIs.
–1B Nick Swisher broke an 0-for-26 slide with a line single to left off rookie Jose Alvarez during the sixth inning of Sunday’s game. He finished the game 1-for-4. Swisher’s issues have been more mental than mechanical, according to Francona. “It’s human nature that you try to do too much,” he said. “Mechanically, I think he’s in pretty good shape.”
–RHP Justin Masterson took the loss Sunday and walks were a big reason for his downfall. He walked two batters in the second when Detroit scored its first run. He also issued a leadoff walk to Miguel Cabrera in the sixth, setting the stage for Don Kelly’s three-run homer. Masterson has allowed 37 walks in 95 1/3 innings and needs to cut that down to become a reliable ace.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Their lineup is very strong and he had to pitch out of the stretch just about every inning. He got (Don) Kelly 1-2 and was just trying to change his eye level and threw it down and in. That was a tough pitch to hit.” — Manager Terry Francona on RHP Justin Masterson.
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MLB Team Report – Cleveland Indians – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Zach McAllister (sprained right middle finger) was placed on the disabled list on June 8, retroactive to June 3.
–SS Asdrubal Cabrera (strained right quad) went on the 15-day disabled list June 4. He’s expected to be out until late June or early July.
–C Lou Marson (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 25. He had been activated April 24 from a prior DL stint. He began a rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on May 29 and moved to Triple-A Columbus on May 30, but he was weeks away from rejoining the Indians.
–RHP Chris Perez (sore right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 27. An MRI performed May 27 revealed just minor tendinitis in his right rotator cuff. Perez has been cleared to begin throwing June 5.
–RHP Brett Myers (right elbow inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 20. He made rehab starts for Double-A Akron on May 17 and May 22. His scheduled rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on May 27 was scratched due to continued soreness in his elbow. Myers was shut down for five to seven days, and he’ll be re-evaluated in early June.
–RHP Blake Wood (Tommy John surgery in May 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 11. He began a rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on May 4, then moved to Class A Lake County on May 15. He rejoined Akron on May 18.
–RHP Josh Tomlin (Tommy John surgery in August 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 15. He is expected to miss most, if not all, of the season as he continues his rehab.
–RHP Frank Herrmann (Tommy John surgery in March 2013) went on the 15-day disabled list March 31, and he was transferred to the 60-day disabled list April 3. He will miss the entire season.
ROTATION:
RHP Justin Masterson
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
LHP Scott Kazmir
RHP Corey Kluber
RHP Carlos Carrasco
BULLPEN:
RHP Vinnie Pestano (closer)
RHP Joe Smith
RHP Cody Allen
LHP Rich Hill
RHP Matt Albers
RHP Bryan Shaw
LHP Nick Hagadone
RHP Matt Langwell
CATCHERS:
Carlos Santana
Yan Gomes
INFIELDERS:
1B Nick Swisher
2B Jason Kipnis
SS Mike Aviles
3B Mark Reynolds
DH Jason Giambi
INF Juan Diaz
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Michael Brantley
CF Michael Bourn
RF Drew Stubbs
OF Ryan Raburn
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