Cleveland Indians: 3 takeaways from series against the Astros

The Cleveland Indians pulled out a tough series victory over the Houston Astros, and several things stood out after the three games.

Cleveland Indians fans knew the series against the Houston Astros would have a playoff feel to it, and the two teams didn’t disappoint.

Dallas Keuchel proved why he is considered one of the best pitchers in all of baseball with a complete-game victory Tuesday night, but the Indians proved why they are a championship-caliber team by winning the final two games of the series.

Several things stood out from the series, including:

1. Cody Allen has actual ice in his veins.

Cody Allen must not have a pulse.

He picked up two saves in the final two games of the series, each coming in a one-run game. Thursday night saw the Astros put runners on the corners with one out, only for Allen to force an infield flyout, followed by a strikeout. That came after a perfect ninth on Wednesday.

There are fans who panic when Allen allows a hit, clamoring for Andrew Miller to pitch in the ninth, but Allen has been elite in the closer role in 2017.

He has only allowed one earned run in nine innings of work, striking out 18 batters. With the starting pitching getting off to a shaky start, Allen has been the anchor of the entire staff.

2. The Astros are real contenders in 2017.

Indians fans saw firsthand Tuesday night who the ace of the Astros’ staff is in Dallas Keuchel. He rolled through the Indians lineup, making two mistakes that resulted in solo home runs, but being nearly perfect otherwise.

The Indians did best the Astros in the final two games, but the results were close enough that the game could have gone either way in both instances. These close results, combined with the talent on Houston’s roster, show that the April series could be a preview of what is to come in October.

3. Francisco Lindor is the team’s best power hitter (right now).

Need a big hit in clutch situation? Call Francisco Lindor.

The young shortstop hit an absolute moonshot home run Thursday night to put the Indians up 4-3, which was his sixth home run in April. That puts him first on the team in that category.

Fans expected Edwin Encarnacion to be hitting all the dingers early in the year, but it has been Lindor, along with Jose Ramirez and Michael Brantley, who have been taking pitchers deep so far.

Encarnacion does have four home runs already, but Lindor’s mark is far more surprising.

Next: Indians No. 6 in power rankings

The Indians get a somewhat easier opponent in the Seattle Mariners starting tonight, so let’s hope they show up with the same intensity seen against the Astros.