Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB playoffs: One bold prediction for each team

By Benjamin Chase

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: The 1998 World Series trophy is seen during a ceremony prior to a game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 18, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 11-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: The 1998 World Series trophy is seen during a ceremony prior to a game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 18, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 11-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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MLB playoffs
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: Mike Clevinger #52 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Progressive Field on September 22, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /

The starter that performs the best for the Indians is their #4 in the rotation

The Cleveland Indians were able to push their way to the MLB playoffs behind a rotation that featured four starters that each topped 200 strikeouts, but it’s the guy who had the least strikeouts of the front four in the rotation that will end up doing the best in the MLB playoffs.

Clevinger took the next step in 2018 in his development, making 32 starts, tossing 200 innings, and posting a 3.02 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 67/207 BB/K ratio. While many would name Corey Kluber or Carlos Carrasco as the top guy to watch. Some could even mention Trevor Bauer, who likely will be the game 4 starter if the Houston/Cleveland series gets that far.

However, the guy who has caught my eye as the season has closed out has been on Clevinger. He took the mound for his final start before the July trading deadline and struck out 8 over 5 innings, but he was able to get his pitch count down in that game after struggling at times with it earlier in the season.

Including that July 28th start, Clevinger finished the season with a dozen starts that he pitched 71 1/3 innings, with a 2.27 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 23/82 BB/K ratio.

He’s entering the offseason on a hot streak, and though the Astros saw him twice this year, and defeated him in both games, those games were in May, and Clevinger has been a much different pitcher since then.

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