With Mother Nature throwing a curveball in the Midwest, it’s been tough for the Cleveland Indians to get into a rhythm on the field with cold, snow and rain postponing three games during the opening week.

The Tribe managed to play four of the six scheduled games to compile a 2-2 record. However, there is a regularly scheduled off day on April 11, so the Indians won’t play again until April 12.

This means the Indians will skip Josh Tomlin in the rotation as he had been scheduled to pitch in Chicago against the White Sox on April 10, but the game was postponed. Tomlin isn’t scheduled to start until April 16 against the New York Mets so it will mean he will have 17 days rest between starts as he last pitched in a game on March 29 in Spring Training.

There were some good signs during the first week such as Mike Napoli hitting two home runs in the first four games and Rajai Davis showing some speed and agility in the outfield and on the basepaths.

Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor also are off to good starts with Ramirez going 5-for-13 (.385 avg) and Lindor hitting .333 (5-for-15). Carlos Santana also has played well as the DH going 4-for-14 (.286) with 5 RBI and two walks.

Danny Salazar looked good in his first start of the season compiling seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings and earning the victory while giving up just one run, three walks and two hits. Cody Allen also pitched a perfect inning to earn a save in his first appearance.

The weather will not be a factor for the first series this week when the Indians head to Tampa for a three-game series April 12-April 14. Then the Tribe heads home to start a six-game homestand that begins with a three-game set April 15-April 17 with the Mets.

Corey Kluber (0-1, 6.75 ERA) will get the start at 7:10 p.m. April 12 while the Rays will counter with lefty Matt Moore (0-0, 5.40 ERA).

Kluber wasn’t sharp in the season opener as he pitched 5.1 innings and gave up nine hits and four runs including a home run along with two walks to take the loss.

Moore pitched five innings in his first start and gave up three runs including a home run and a walk along with three hits for a no-decision.

Carlos Carrasco (0-0, 7.20 ERA) will start the second game of the series that starts at 7:10 p.m. April 13. He faces Drew Smyly (0-1, 6.75 ERA) who pitched 6.2 innings on April 4 against Toronto. Smyly gave up five runs and six hits and three home runs and a walk to take the loss.

Carrasco also was not especially sharp in his first appearance as he pitched five innings April 6 and gave up seven hits, four runs including three home runs and a walk.

Salazar (1-0, 1.69 ERA) will take the hill for his second start of the season at 1:10 p.m. April 14. He squares off against Chris Archer (0-2, 7.20 ERA) who has pitched 10 innings and striking out 17, but giving up nine runs (eight earned) and four home runs in his two starts.

Cody Anderson (0-0, 3.00 ERA) is scheduled to get his second start of the season at 7:10 p.m. on April 15 as the Indians return home to Progressive Field. The Mets will counter with former Indians ace Bartolo Colon (0-1, 1.23 ERA). In two appearances including one start, Colon has pitched 7.1 innings and given up just one run and six hits this season.

Anderson pitched six innings and gave up six hits, two runs and two walks during his first appearance and seems to have picked up where he left off concluding the 2015 season.

Matt Harvey (0-1, 4.76 ERA) will take the mound for a 4:10 p.m. start on April 16, while the Indians will counter with Tomlin, who as I stated earlier, will be scheduled to make his first start of the season.

Harvey has pitched 5.2 innings and has given up four runs and eight hits in his first start of the campaign.

Neither team has announced a starter to conclude the final game of the three-game series that concludes with a 1:10 p.m. start on April 17.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not

Ramirez has shown already that he can be a key contributor for the Indians this season as he already has started games in the outfield and has been a key offensive cog. In the super utility role, Ramirez should be a significant upgrade over Mike Aviles, who filled that role in 2015.

Relievers Allen, Joba Chamberlain, Jeff Manship, and Dan Otero have not given up a run in 7.2 innings. As is usual, a strong bullpen will be a key for the Indians if the team wants to seriously contend in 2016.

Brian Shaw had a bad outing April 9 when he was asked to come in during the seventh inning. He promptly gave up five runs on four hits and one walk in 0.2 innings. Some are quick to say Shaw is decline because he’s been overused during the past three seasons. Keep in mind, it’s one game and he should be just fine this year.

The Collin Cowgill era in Cleveland might be coming to an end soon once Lonnie Chisenhall is activated. Cowgill has showed little signs he’s worth keeping as he provides little or nothing on offense so far and hasn’t exactly been sparkling in the outfield.