The Cleveland Indians are poised and ready to begin what many hope can be a magical season that could end up with the team’s first World Series championship since 1948.
Lots of prognosticators including an appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated have picked the Tribe to finally end the city of Cleveland’s drought of championships that has lasted since the Browns won their last NFL championship in 1964.
Many things will need to go right along with a little luck for the Indians and the key will be if injuries can stay away and several players bounce back to have strong seasons once again.
The club remains mostly intact from 2014, but added a power bat in Brandon Moss from the A’s after trading a prospect in infielder Joe Wendle. If Moss can stay healthy and provide protection for Carlos Santana in the team’s lineup, then the Tribe should have the capability to score a lot of runs in 2015.
Healthy and bounce back seasons from players such as Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, Jason Kipnis will also be a huge key to this lineup. It remains to be seen who the real Lonnie Chisenhall is and if Jose Ramirez can hold down the fort in the middle infield. Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes should continue to shine in 2015.
It all begins with pitching and reigning Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber toeing the rubber at 7:10 p.m. April 6 in Houston against the Astros.
Kluber, who is fresh off signing a long-term 5-year contract with the Indians, will look to build upon or at least continue his success from the 2014 campaign.
The Astros will counter with lefty Dallas Keuchel, who won the American League Gold Glove award last year and compiled a 12-9 record with a 2.93 ERA in 29 starts. The Astros feature a young team with exciting players such AL Batting Champ Jose Altuve and slugger Chris Carter. Pitching is the uncertainty for this young ballclub.
The matchup is the first of a 162-game season, so it’s always tempting to read a lot into how the season opening game goes, but keep in mind winning or losing the opener won’t define a team’s year.
After a day off for both teams, Carlos Carrasco will start game two on April 8 at 8:10 p.m. at Minute Maid Park, while the Astros will counter with righty Scott Feldman, who was the team’s opening day starter in 2014. Feldman went 8-12 last year with a 3.74 ERA in 29 starts.
Carrasco, who is fresh off a breakout season of his own, finished the 2014 campaign with a record of 8-7 and posted a 2.55 ERA in 40 games including 14 starts. It remains to be seen if the righthander can continue his success as a starter after turning around his career working through his issues in the bullpen.
Game 3 at 2:10 p.m. features young Trevor Bauer on the hill for the Tribe and he looks to complete an entire season on the 25-man roster. Bauer hopes to have finally mastered his control and become a consistent starter in the middle of a playoff contender.
Bauer posted a 4.18 ERA in and 143 Ks in 153 innings to go along with his 5-8 record.
Asher Wojciechowski will make his Big League debut for the Astros after compiling a 4-4 record with a 4.74 ERA at Triple-A in 2014.
On April 10, the Indians open the season in Cleveland at Progressive Field for a 4:10 p.m. start against defending AL Central Champions Detroit Tigers. It will be fans first chance to see the new offerings and seats available at the ballpark.
Zach McAllister faces Alredo Simon in the type of game featuring bottom of the rotations starters that could provide a preview as to how the depth of each pitching staff will be tested during the season.
McAllister was initially thought to begin the season in the bullpen, but he had a solid spring and moved his way into the rotation when Danny Salazar was optioned to Columbus and Gavin Floyd suffered another serious arm injury.
T.J. House, the only lefty in the Tribe’s rotation, will make the start on April 11, while the Tigers have not announced their starter.
House also looks to build on a solid second half in 2014 for the Indians.
Kluber will then round out the week on April 12 against the Tigers for a 1:10 p.m. start. No starter has been announced for the Tigers for that game.
Who’s Hot – Who’s Not
The signing of Kluber to a long-term deal makes him an easy choice of who’s hot. Both the team and player now have financial certainty for the next five seasons.
Ideally, Kluber will pitch well enough to make the contract a bargain as he heads into the prime of his career. At the same time, the Indians will have control of an ace during his peak at what is likely to be a discounted rate during the finally two or three seasons, depending on what the financial considerations turn out to be.
Once again, Salazar couldn’t put together a good enough spring campaign to make the 25-man roster out on Opening Day. The young flame throwing pitcher seems to have all the stuff and the hype that comes along with these expectations, but so far he hasn’t been able to put it all together and will need more seasoning at Triple-A Columbus.
Salazar will likely be the first pitcher called up to Cleveland if a starter struggles or injury occurs, especially now that Josh Tomlin is hurt once again. It’s highly likely Salazar will contribute to the Big League club in 2015 and play an important role, but we’ll have to wait for now.
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