Cleveland Indians: Second half predictions for the Tribe

The Cleveland Indians had an interesting first half resulting in five players being named all-stars. How could the second half play out for them?

We had some hits and misses in our predictions to start off the 2017 campaign, but with the Cleveland Indians in first place, there is plenty to talk about prior to the series opener in Oakland, CA versus the Oakland A’s on Friday. Let’s just jump right in.

1. The Indians are going to run away in the AL Central. That’s right. We’ll start with a big one. At the moment, Cleveland has a 2.5 game lead over the Minnesota Twins and 3 games over the Kansas City Royals, so it’s a bit bold to say the Indians will run away with the division.                                                                                                                                                                                    However, the Twins have frankly overachieved all season. The Royals are improving, but they just doesn’t seem to be a real threat. Additionally, there is no way the Tribe continues to struggle against the division (23-20) and at home (21-24).

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This team has had its ups and downs, but they are not a team that resembles those numbers. The Indians will get it back in gear and win by at least eight or nine games.

2. The Indians will make a deadline trade that doesn’t touch the starting lineup. They will perhaps move Abraham Almonte, Brandon Guyer, or some minor pieces for bench help or a back-end starter. There just isn’t a front-line starter or a true impact bat that the Indians will pay up for.

3. Josh Tomlin won’t make it through August as a starter. I’m tired of saying it, but this was only a matter of time. Per baseball-reference.com, he has an ERA at 5.90. It’s not a fluke anymore from some early rough starts. It’s a trend, a pattern, and a problem.

4. Jose Ramirez won’t win the AL MVP, but he will bring home some serious hardware. A Silver Slugger looks to be a pretty likely result this season for the third baseman.

He may even contend for a Gold Glove, with the likes of Baltimore Orioles’ Manny Machado the only real threat to him there. If he doesn’t finish in second place in the MVP voting as it looks right now, there’s no shortage of honors coming Ramirez’s way.

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5. Francisco Lindor will hit over .300 by the end of the season. Throughout his short career, Lindor has been far better in the second half of the season. In fact, he hits a full 50 points higher in the second half of the year, going at a .271 clip in the first half and a .321 clip in the second.

Much like the team as a whole, Lindor is not a .250 like hitter. He’s proven that in Cleveland outside of June and July of this year. Lindor will bounce back and be a reason the Tribe runs away with the central.

6. Attendance will continue to be a positive story. There have been a handful of sell outs lately and Crain’s covered just how hot a ticket weekend games have been for the Indians. Not having to compete with the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ playoff run and having the summer to themselves will help, but it’s not like Progressive Field is in the middle of a 455 game sell out streak right now.

It’s not just the bleachers and the Corner Bar getting sold out, and that is a great thing.

Next: Bauer can save the rotation

Thankfully, the Tribe starts on the road on Friday, where they have been playing exceptionally well. Let’s hope that is the start of a huge second half for the Indians.