CLEVELAND – The Indians have been forced to invent them this week in a way they haven’t had in recent years. Of a rotation that was one of the best in the majors, there is only one healthy starter.
However, Cleveland’s ninth has moved on.
After learning earlier in the week that Shane Bieber would be out of action for at least two weeks, the Indians won four straight games by completing an Orioles sweep at Progressive Field on Thursday. Right now, Terry Francona’s troop is 10 games over .500.
“I told our guys that we were going to have to get creative,” Francona said. “Let’s go to Pittsburgh [a partir del viernes] and every day there will be things that we will have to solve. But things work out when the boys play the way they are playing and give the effort. Together, we will find a way ”.
In the series against the Orioles, the Indians showed their resilience with help from the entire lineup, including four RBIs from Yu Chang in the final game on Thursday, plus some good flexibility from the mountaineering body. Cleveland has won seven of its last nine games.
Let’s take a look at three things we’ve learned about the Tribe since Bieber entered the disabled list:
**1. J-Ram: The Offensive Spark Plug **
The Indians must protect José Ramírez at all costs. When the Dominican is on fire, the offense is in good hands, despite any other problems the team has. In Cleveland’s 38 wins, Ramirez is hitting .306 with two doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 41 RBIs. Yet in the Tribe’s 28 losses, his average is just .221 with a .623 OPS and three RBIs.
A young club with little experience needs a veteran to turn to. And that is precisely what Ramírez has been. Right now, he leads the team in home runs (16), RBIs (44), runs (47), on-base percentage (.352), slugging (.544), hits (65), doubles (15) and OPS (.896 ). He has seen action in each of the team’s 66 games.
**two. Bradley has made the wait count
** Bobby Bradley has shown his potential. In 10 games since being called up from Triple-A Columbus, he is hitting .375 with four homers and 11 RBIs. Before Bradley was promoted, the Indians’ first basemen had hit just two home runs.
The sample is small, but without Franmil Reyes in the offensive order, Bradley represents another threat of power in the thick part of the lineup.
**3. And the MVP is … the bullpen
** Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti jokingly said that beyond Aaron Civale, there is no distinction between the team’s starting pitchers and relievers on the team’s core corps. Cleveland’s ninth is aware that it takes creativity to fill four holes in the rotation, and so far, they have been successful. Over the past four days, the relay has a 1.40 ERA.
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