Cleveland Indians: Win Streak Now Sits at Eight Games
After a disappointing 2015, the Cleveland Indians were overlooked, almost forgotten, in preseason predictions. But now, the Tribe holds a five-game lead over the defending champion Royals.
The Cleveland Indians are making a run at the title of best in the AL. For the first two-plus months of the season, the AL Central standings were a mess. Four teams were good, but not great, with no one really showing that they could win it. On June 16, only 2.5 games separated the first-place Indians and the fourth-place White Sox. Since that date, the Tribe has emerged as a real contender and gotten control over the division.
22-year-old Francisco Lindor has given the Indians a huge boost in their recent surge, hitting .321 with three home runs during their win streak. Even 35-year-old veteran Rajai Davis has been on fire during the streak, batting .450, including a 4-for-5 game against the White Sox last Sunday. The team has put up an impressive 6.38 runs per game while only surrendering two runs per contest.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
The pitching staff for the Indians has been consistently dependable all season, even with injuries. The group is well known for the three-headed monster at the top consisting of Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, and Danny Salazar, and they have not disappointed.
The back-end starters have also been spectacular. After being demoted to the bullpen to start the season, Trevor Bauer is impressing with a 2.72 ERA in his last seven starts. Josh Tomlin had a strong ten starts in 2015, and he has picked up right where he left off. He owns a 2.93 ERA in his last seven starts, and his number for the season is 3.32. The Indians’ team ERA of 3.51 is sixth in the majors.
The Indians’ dominance was on full display Saturday afternoon, as they blanked the Tigers, 6-0. Carlos Carrasco was excellent, throwing a four-hit shutout. The offense jumped on Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez early and Detroit never recovered. After sweeping both the White Sox and the Rays, the Tribe hopes to complete the sweep of the Tigers today. Josh Tomlin will be taking the mound against veteran Justin Verlander.
Even though it is still June, the Indians have shown that they are here to stay. They have the look of a contender and are expected to be a player in the trade market come July. This team is playing incredibly well, and they’re giving Cleveland fans yet another reason to believe.