Cleveland Indians Roundup: Indians Top Kansas City Royals, Should They Have Reconsidered Before Signing Marlon Byrd?

Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals with another great pitching performance

Just the other day, Major League Baseball suspended Marlon Byrd for 162 games over performance enhancing drugs. As shocking and saddening as the news was, Jeff Mount wondered if the Cleveland Indians should have been more cautious when dealing with the outfielder in the off-season. After all, MLB handed Byrd his first PED suspension just a years ago, so a history existed before this latest run-in. 

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

Jeff made a very good point when he noted that no other MLB team was willing to offer Byrd a major league contract over the winter. Surely someone must have had some interest in a slugger with three straight 20-plus-homer seasons? Could his age have been enough to scare off the rest of the league? It seemed dubious, and now Indians have fallen from being the team that scooped up a talented bat a bargain price.

In other more positive news, the Cleveland Indians trounced the Kansas City Royals by a final score of 6-1. Danny Salazar turned in another great start for the Cleveland Indians, lowering his season earned run average to 2.24 in the process. As great as his three hits allowed and nine strikeouts may have been, his five walks, however, also exemplify his growing control issues. Still, he has been one of the best pitchers in the American League.

On the offensive side, Yan Gomes and Tyler Naquin both went deep with solo shots, and Jose Ramirez continued his great season. Now batting .325 with a great glove, the utility man has played his way into the All-Star Game discussion. Jason Kipnis also had a big night, going two for three with a walk and a double. After the win, the Indians now sit a half game behind the Royals for the division crown.

More from around the American League Central:

Cleveland Indians Win 6-1 Behind Danny Salazar’s Gem – Wahoo’s on First

Cleveland Indians: Should They Have Known Better With Marlon Byrd? – Wahoo’s on First

Cleveland Indians: Jose Ramirez Playing Like an All-Star – Wahoo’s on First

Cleveland Indians Walk-Off Again, Stun Royals in 9^th for Win – Wahoo’s on First