After a very successful road trip, the Tribe come home for Labor Day to take on the Tigers in the opener of a four-game set.
Trailing the Detroit Tigers by just three games, the Indians start a four-game set at Progressive Field against them. They last met right after the All-Star break, when the Tribe took three of four in the Motor City.
- Monday's game is at 4:00 PM (Price vs. Kluber) [ESPN; MLB.TV free game of the day]
- Tuesday's game is at 7:05 PM (Lobstein vs. Carrasco)
- Wednesday's game is at 7:05 PM (Verlander vs. Salazar)
- Thursday's game is at 7:05 PM (Scherzer vs. Bauer)
This is Cleveland's longest homestand of the season. After the four with the Tigers, the White Sox visit for three and the Twins will follow for three more. And as an added bonus, the Angels will swing by for a makeup game next Monday before the Twins series starts.
Playoff Watch: Rangers at Royals, Mariners at A's, Red Sox at Yankees, Blue Jays Rays
Team in a Box
Detroit Tigers | Offense | AL Rank | Pitching | AL Rank | |||
2014 Record | 74-62 | Runs/Game | 4.7 | 2nd | Runs/Game | 4.4 | 9th |
AL Central | 2nd | OBP | 330 | 1st | H/9 | 9.1 | 11th |
Last 10 | 6-4 | SLG | 424 | 1st | BB/9 | 2.9 | 6th |
Last 30 | 15-15 | Steals | 92 | 3rd | SO/9 | 7.7 | 6th |
The Indians have taken seven of the twelve meetings so far this season and have outscored them by five runs in those twelve games. Since the teams last met, the Tigers have treaded right at the .500 mark. They were also very active at the trade deadline. They picked up Joakim Soria from the Rangers, but he is currently on the DL. They then went out and secured the services of David Price through next season, but it cost them Drew Smyly and Austin Jackson to do so. And then Anibal Sanchez landed on the DL as well.
While they still lead the league in many offensive categories, they haven't fared well in the past month. As a team they have a 697 OPS and scored 4.4 runs per game, both down significantly from the season total. Their team ERA is also up in the past month (4.28) and the WHIp is an unsightly 1.395. Defensively, they are obviously better than the Indians, but are still a bottom third defensive team.
Projected Roster
Pos | Player | Bats | PA | BA | OPS |
C | L | 400 | 221 | 692 | |
1B | Miguel Cabrera (DTD) | R | 575 | 299 | 850 |
2B | R | 610 | 280 | 733 | |
3B | R | 477 | 262 | 720 | |
SS | R | 238 | 249 | 684 | |
LF | J.D. Martinez | R | 373 | 304 | 885 |
CF | R | 420 | 285 | 740 | |
RF | R | 475 | 282 | 768 | |
DH | S | 535 | 327 | 950 | |
|
|
|
|
| |
IF | S | 221 | 211 | 526 | |
OF | L | 52 | 280 | 688 | |
UT | L | 163 | 259 | 647 | |
C | R | 137 | 234 | 546 | |
C | R | 460 | 295 | 770 | |
IF | R | 596 | 287 | 735 | |
OF | L | 549 | 276 | 861 | |
OF | L | 522 | 263 | 760 |
* Stats with Toledo Mud Hens; ** Stats with Erie Sea Wolves
With today being September 1, the rosters have expanded. The Tigers have aded two outfielders, a catcher and another infielder. With Jackson's departure, Davis slides over to center and J.D. Martinez now plays every day. Miguel Cabrera left the second game on Saturday with a sore right ankle, and missed Sunday's game. He might be limited in this series. If he can't play the field, Victor may be forced to put on a glove as Brad Ausmus would be crazy to sit Victor. Honestly, Victor is the Tigers offensive MVP this season over Cabrera anyway.
In the dozen games played this year, Avila has been the biggest thorn with a 1104 OP and two homers. Victor is hitting at a 989 clip and has four dingers. But J.D. Martinez has ten RBI to go along with his three bombs and 986 OP. Oh and Cabrera is his usual self, 983 OPS. Kelly has been awful, 292 OPS, as has Suarez (396) and Davis (601).
Projected Staff
Player | Throws | ERA | IP | WHIP | K/9 |
R | 3.26 | 187.2 | 1.151 | 10.6 | |
David Price | L | 3.32 | 203.1 | 1.057 | 9.9 |
R | 4.68 | 171.1 | 1.447 | 6.9 | |
Rick Porcello | R | 3.10 | 180.0 | 1.144 | 5.5 |
L | 4.07 | 146.0 | 1.479 | 7.8 | |
|
|
|
|
| |
R | 5.14 | 49.0 | 1.551 | 9.0 | |
R | 3.50 | 54.0 | 1.315 | 8.7 | |
R | 2.61 | 48.1 | 1.221 | 10.4 | |
Phil Coke | L | 4.11 | 50.1 | 1.450 | 6.8 |
L | 2.12 | 34.0 | 1.176 | 7.4 | |
L | 4.26 | 12.2 | 2.447 | 7.1 | |
Jim Johnson## | R | 7.38 | 46.1 | 2.050 | 6.2 |
Evan Reed | R | 4.60 | 29.1 | 1.636 | 8.0 |
L | 7.09 | 26.2 | 1.800 | 6.1 |
# Includes stats with Rays; ## Includes stats with A's; * Stats with Toledo Mud Hens
As this is a four game series, the only starter missed is Porcello. The opener will be the lefty Price. He has been hit and miss since the trade. He had a great outing against the Rays two starts ago, but was throttled by the Yankees in his last start. He gave up 12 hits and 8 runs in just two innings of work. He hasn't pitched against the Tribe yet this year but is 5-1 in seven career starts, 3.12 ERA, 1.200 WHIP and 9.3 K/9. Lobstein is yet another lefty who has two career MLB starts, both in August. He was average against the Twins, but pitched well against the Yankees.
Verlander has not been himself this year. He has a 4.08 ERA, 1.465 WHIP and 8.5 K/9 in his past five starts. He has made three starts against the Tribe this year, is 1-1 and a 3.50 ERA, 1.6667 WHIP and 8.5 K/9. Scherzer has also been more hittable this season. He has a 3.38 ERA, 0.952 WHIP and 12.7 K/9 in his past five starts, but the White Sox did put up five runs on him in his last start. He also has made three starts this year, is 1-0 with a 4.82 ERA, 1.714 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
The bullpen has been a hot mess all year long. Nathan has been hit hard and often. Even Chamberlain has caught a bit of the DBS (Detroit Bullpen Syndrome) the past month, 5.23 ERA in 10.1 innings. Albuquerque looks to be having the best year overall. They were hard up enough to sign Jim Johnson, who the Indians sure hope to face this series after what they did to him in April in Oakland. The Tribe has scored six off Nathan and Ian Krol (who was demoted). They also have five off Alburquerque but haven't scored off Chamberlian yet in his 6.2 innings.
On the Shelf
- LF Andy Dirks [60 day DL], out for season
- SS Jose Iglesias [60 day DL], out for season
- RP Bruce Rondon [60 day DL], out for season
- RP Joel Hanrahan [15 day DL], no timetable for return
- RP Luke Putkonen [60 day DL], possible September return
- SP Anibel Sanchez [15 day DL], no timetable for return
- RP Joakim Soria [15 day DL], possible September return
Almanac
W | L | Pct | RS | RA | Pythag | |
2014 | 7 | 5 | 583 | 63 | 58 | 538 |
2013 | 4 | 15 | 211 | 70 | 120 | 272 |
Last 5* | 33 | 58 | 363 | 340 | 479 | 348 |
Last 10* | 83 | 100 | 454 | 816 | 965 | 424 |
All-Time | 1049 | 1091 | 490 | 9568 | 9852 | 487 |
*Does not include 2014 stats
-
Editor's Note: SB Nation's partner FanDuel is hosting daily $18,000 Fantasy Baseball leagues. It's $2 to join and first prize is $2,000. Click here for details.
from Let's Go Tribe - All Posts
