Cleveland Indians Face Off Against The Boston Red Sox To Make Up April Postponement

The Cleveland Indians got their 11-game homestand started off on the right foot, as they swept the Los Angeles Angels in a four-game weekend series. The Indians dominated the Angels the whole weekend, as they outscored 37-13 over the four games. The Indians are now 67-48 on the season, and currently hold a five game lead over the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. The Tribe will welcome the Boston Red Sox for a quick one game series to make up the game they were supposed to play on April seventh that was postponed due to weather. The Red Sox currently stand at 64-52, and are third in the American League East. The Red Sox are two games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East, and hold the second wild card spot.

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

Drew Pomeranz (8-9, 3.03 ERA) will get the start for the Red Sox in the hopes that he can capture the magic he had before he was traded. Pomeranz was a dominant force with the San Diego Padres, as he was 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 102 innings with the Padres. The Red Sox traded for Pomeranz over the all-star break, giving up touted pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza in exchange for Pomeranz. Pomeranz has laid an egg since being acquired, as his numbers since the trade (5 GS,  0-2, 5.26 ERA) are not what the Red Sox envisioned, though Pomeranz did throw the ball better his last time out, as he gave up one run in 5 1/3 innings against the Yankees.

The Red Sox bullpen has been inconsistent so far this year, the Sox ‘pen has a 3.88 ERA to go along with 12 total blown saves. Closer Craig Kimbrel (2-3, 3.41 ERA, 19 SV) was activated off the disabled list August 1st and is starting to return to his dominant form, as he is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA since that activation.

The Red Sox acquired Brad Ziegler (2-6, 2.84 ERA) and Fernando Abad (1-6, 3.35 ERA) at the trade deadline in the hopes of shoring up their bullpen, but it appears to have blown up in their face, as they have gone 0-5 with a with a 4.50 ERA in 18 innings between them.

Luckily for the Sox pitching staff, their offense has been able to bail them out more often than not. The Red Sox currently have one of the best if not the best offenses in all of baseball, as they have a .285 team batting average (best in the MLB,) 148 home runs (12th in the MLB,) and 612 RBI (best in the MLB.) DH David Ortiz (.310, 26 HR, 90 RBI) is making the most of his last year in the MLB as his 90 RBI are good for third in baseball, and he currently leads everyone with 37 doubles, but the buck does not stop with him.

23-year-old RF Mookie Betts (.313, 26 HR, 84 RBI) is playing well beyond his years, and the same could be said for 23-year-old SS Xander Bogaerts (.313, 14 HR, 69 RBI.) Combine them with CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.282, 18 HR, 65 RBI,) and C Sandy Leon (.389, 5 HR, 21 RBI in 41 games) and the Red Sox have an offense that will be potent long after Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia (.307, 12 HR, 53 RBI) are gone.

The Indians will send Josh Tomlin (11-5, 4.18 ERA) out to try to counter the Red Sox potent offense. Tomlin has struggled as of late, giving up 14 runs in 8 2/3 innings over his last two starts. Tomlin leads is tied for the league lead in number of home runs given up with 27, so the Red Sox will look to feast on the long ball against him.

The Indians offense currently has some hot bats as well, and none are hotter than Jose Ramirez (.314, 8 HR, 51 RBI.) Ramirez currently has an 18 game hitting streak going, and is second in the junior circuit with a .383 average with runners in scoring position. Jason Kipnis (.291, 20 HR, 65 RBI) is enjoying his first 20 home run season, Mike Napoli (.265, 29 HR, 85 RBI) is having a career year, Francisco Lindor (.314, 14 HR, 61 RBI) is turning in the face of the franchise, Rajai Davis (31 SB, first in the AL) is running all over the competition, and Tyler Naquin (.314, 13 HR, 37 RBI) is making a strong push for American League Rookie of the Year.

Next: Should the Indians Consider Carlos Gomez?

Even though the Indians will only be playing one game against the Red Sox, this game could still serve as a playoff preview. The Indians have struggled some against contending teams this year, as they are 23-24 against American League opponents that are over .500, and a convincing win against the Red Sox could go a long way to bucking that trend.