A.M. Wahoo’s: The Magic Number is Down to 1

Taking a look at the news surrounding the Cleveland Indians and the rest of the MLB on the morning of September 26, 2016.

Major League Baseball was dealt a tragic blow Sunday morning with the news that Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez died in a boating accident. It is a loss that will be felt for years, as Fernandez was a great man both on and off the field.

The Marlins cancelled their game Sunday, but the rest of MLB played, with tributes to the late phenom all throughout the league.

The Cleveland Indians entered Sunday with a chance to clinch the AL Central with a win and a Kansas City Royals win over the Detroit Tigers. The Royals provided the help, but a 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox delayed the Indians’ party for at least one more day.

The Indians are now in Detroit, ready to take on the Tigers, needing just one win to clinch the division. While we wait for tonight’s game, let’s take a look at the news surrounding the Indians and the rest of the MLB in today’s edition of A.M. Wahoo’s.

Cleveland Indians News:

Cleveland Indians Can Clinch AL Central Title in Detroit

"The Cleveland Indians entered today’s game with a chance to clinch the team’s first AL Central title since 2007, and do so in front of the home crowd. The scoreboard watching began early when the Kansas City Royals jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, but it did not matter as the Indians were unable to muster anything on offense, falling 3-0 to the Chicago White Sox in the final home game of the regular season."

Getting to Know Ryan Merritt and Adam Plutko

"Expanded rosters in September across Major League Baseball afford the opportunity of a rite of passage for young players throughout the minor leagues, as many get their first taste of the big leagues with a September callup. The Cleveland Indians are no exception, with seven players on the current active roster who have limited experience at the major league level."

Trevor Bauer is the Indians’ No. 2 Starter for the Playoffs… and That’s Okay

"Injuries to the Cleveland Indians’ starting rotation have thrust Trevor Bauer into the spotlight, and for good reason. Bauer is now the Indians number two starter for the rest of the season, and the playoffs, after injuries to Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, meaning that it’s time for him to show the club that he has what it takes to be a reliable big league arm."

Trevor Bauer, October Pitcher (Let’s Go Tribe)

"It’s probably safe to assume the Cleveland Indians are going to lock up the AL Central. At this writing, they lead the White Sox 10-4 en route to shrinking their magic number to three. I’m still a little nervous to jump to this conclusion because of those bedeviling baseball gods, but for the sake of the article and indeed hope itself, the conclusion must be jumped to. This means Trevor Bauer will be a postseason starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians."

Indians React to Tragic Loss of Fernandez (Indians.com)

"A group of players stood in front of a clubhouse television, others watching from their seats at their lockers, taking in the unfathomable news of Jose Fernandez’s death. One of the baseball’s rising stars, and one of the faces of the game, was gone. Indians pitcher Danny Salazar, who posted a heartfelt message on social media, told reporters he was too upset to discuss the tragic development. The team was still learning the details, and coming to terms with the reality that Fernandez, 24, had passed away in a boating accident in Miami early Sunday morning."

MLB News:

Miami Pays Tribute to Jose Fernandez on Marlins Park Mound (FanSided)

"As the news of the tragic passing of 24-year-old Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez continues to send shockwaves throughout the sports world, the team is already paying tribute to their young star. Clark Spencer, a beat writer for the Marlins for the Miami Herald, posted a picture to his Twitter account on Sunday morning that shows Fernandez’s number 16 spray-painted on the mound at Marlins Park, along with his hat."

Cespedes, Mets Reflect on Loss of Jose Fernandez (SI.com)

"The crowd around Yoenis Cespedes’s locker grew larger with each passing minute, with cameramen jostling reporters amid the jumble of bags and suitcases being packed postgame. There is nothing unusual about that scene after a Mets game; Cespedes has regularly been the center of attention since he came to New York. But on a chilly Sunday afternoon in Queens—the day of the Mets’ final regular-season home game of the year—Cespedes wasn’t facing questions about at-bats or pitching matchups."

Dodgers Clinch NL West in Vin Scully’s Final Home Game (ESPN.com)

"Champagne and beer flooded the blue carpet in the Dodgers’ clubhouse. The stench of alcohol hung in the damp air. Wives, kids and a puppy were in on the party with music blaring. The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their fourth straight National League West title with the kind of storybook ending this city was built on: winning the crown in Vin Scully’s final home game when Charlie Culberson homered with two outs in the 10th inning to beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Sunday."