Cleveland Indians Winning Despite Key Injuries

One trend among the Terry Francona-led Cleveland Indians teams is that they start slow. In 2015 they were 20-25 on May 25th; in 2014, they were 24-27. The outlier to this equation is the 2013 season when they were 27-21, and it subsequently was also the only year they have made the playoffs under Francona. After the Indians 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox yesterday, the Indians are 25-20 through May 25th, and playing their best baseball of the year thus far, and it’s been done despite key Injuries.

All offseason the talk surrounding the Indians was how star outfielder Michael Brantley was going to start the year on the disabled list, and how the Indians were going to get runs sans Brantley. Brantley came back on April 25th but was put back on the disabled list on May 9th, as concerns popped up about the health of his surgically repaired shoulder. Brantley hit .231 with 7 RBI in his 11 games back. The Indians went 6-5 in those games. Brantley is starting the rehab process, and should be back with the big league club soon, and his addition should be an immediate boost to the Indians lineup. The lineup also suffered a blow when backup catcher Roberto Perez broke his thumb May 3rd. Perez is a top backup catcher, and could probably start for some MLB teams. Perez could miss upwards of 12 weeks, but so far this injury has not been glaring, as Chris Gimenez has been a suitable replacement. 

More from Away Back Gone

• Cleveland Guardians tantalizingly close to locking up AL Central tiebreakers
• Cleveland Guardians: Terry Francona becomes meme in profanity-laced ejection
• Say goodbye to defensive shifts and hello to bigger bases, pitch clock in 2023
• Cleveland Guardians: Shane Bieber second-fastest to 800 strikeouts in major-league history
• The next week will make or break the Cleveland Guardians’ season

Another offseason Indians talking point was the resurgence of Carlos Carrasco, and how he was a trendy pick to win the AL Cy Young. Carrasco was dominant out of the gates in 2016, as he was 2-0 with a 2.79 ERA through three starts. This all came to a screeching halt on April 24th, as Carrasco went down in a heap of pain covering first base against Detroit. Carrasco hurt his left hamstring, as has been on the 15-day DL ever since. Luckily, the Indians have been able to stomach the injury to Carrasco, thanks in part to Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin (more on that later). Carrasco is reportedly throwing three innings at Single-A Lake County on Saturday, and if it goes well, Carrasco could be back with the Indians sooner rather than later.

Joba Chamberlain was a quiet pickup for the Indians in the offseason, as they signed the hulking right-hander to a minor league contract in December. Chamberlain wowed everyone in spring training, and ended up winning a spot on the opening day roster, and proved that he deserved to be there, as he has a 1.93 ERA and 15 strikeouts through 14 innings, and was one of the most reliable arms out of an Indians bullpen that was unreliable through the first month and a half of the season. Chamberlain was then subsequently placed on the disabled list after straining his left intercostal, leaving some question marks in the Indians bullpen, as our own Andrew Schmid has said. Chamberlain’s injury could prove to be the biggest injury for the Tribe this year, as their bullpen has very bad some nights.

All the being said the Indians have also had some big positives to start the year. Francisco Lindor has looked like the real deal to start the year, as it seems like every night he makes an amazing play that sparks the rest of the team, and Lindor has been a catalyst for the Indians success this year. But this year, it looks like Lindor and the other young players has some true mentors in Juan Uribe, Rajai Davis, and Mike Napoli. All three have held this own in the lineup this year, and it looks like the younger players enjoy being around them, whether it is Lindor showering Juan Uribe in gum or Josh Tomlin sitting next to pictures of Mike Napoli’s “slide” this Indians clubhouse seems looser and more fun than past years, which makes their winning even more special.

Next: Chamberlain's injury leaves bullpen in sorry shape

The aforementioned Tomlin is actually one of the big reasons that the Indians are in the position they are now. Tomlin is currently 7-0 with a 3.35 ERA, and has been the most consistent starter in the rotation, Corey Kluber turned in a gem on the mound yesterday, and it bumped his season stats to 4-5 with a 3.78 ERA and 67 strikeouts over 66 2/3 innings. The real key to the rotation thus far in the season has been Trevor Bauer. Bauer started the season out in the bullpen but was called into the rotation after the injury to Carrasco. Bauer is 2-2 with a 4.16 ERA in games that he has started, and has held Carrasco’s spot in the rotation nicely. Throw in Cody Anderson‘s great start on Monday and the Indians pitching rotation is holding its own.