Houston Astros present early-season test for 2019 Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians face an early-season test against the Houston Astros, who could potentially make the Tribe look really, really bad.

April is winding down for the Cleveland Indians, who’ve faced plenty of adversity during their first month of the 2019 season. But with the Houston Astros laying in wait for a four-game series, the Tribe’s spring may sour very quickly.

Houston made quick work of the Indians in last season’s ALDS, as the Indians struggled to muster any kind of offense against the Astros’ pitching staff.

Welp, the Indians lineup is a lot worse than it was last October, while the Astros are off to a great start in the NL West.

The Indians lineup is second-to-last in runs scored (90), while they’re the owners of the AL’s worst batting average (.213). Meanwhile, Houston is sixth in runs scored (120) and leads the American League in batting average (.282). Hard to swallow for Tribe fans, knowing Michael Brantley is batting .303 (.852) OPS in his first year with the Astros.

Dr. Smooth would look like freaking Babe Ruth in this lineup, but, I digress.

Things should get better, I think Francisco Lindor is still easing back into life as an every-day-player after starting the season on the DL. Jose Ramirez reminded everyone that he’s actually a former All-Star and not some guy who completely forgot how to play following a 3-for-4, 4 RBI performance in the series finale against the Marlins on Wednesday.

Carlson’s Santan’s .362 average is fourth in the AL, and I think Carlos Gonzalez can still run into some pitches.

Make no mistake though, the Indians lineup has looked bad leading up to this point and the Astros pitching is perfectly capable of making them look a lot worse.

• At least the Astros are going to get the Indians best shot on the hill: Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco are penciled in to start Games 1, 2 and 4 of the series. Shane Bieber will start the third game.

The Indians won’t see Justin Verlander or Lance McCullers Jr. in the series.

• Houston has the best bullpen in the league when measured by ERA (2.96). The Indians are second (3.58). The Tribe’s pen may prove to be built out of cardboard though as opponents are batting .250 against Indians relievers.  Teams are only batting .194 against the Astros’ pen.

• A series split on the road would qualify as a win for the Indians, especially after the debacle of last fall. With that said, a Houston sweep would surprise no one. Kluber and Carrasco have either been really good, or really bad. Bieber was no prize in his last start. Bauer’s about the only thing the Tribe can count on, but can they get him runs?

• It’s been rocky, but I’ve contended that if the Indians can hang around .500 in the first month, Terry Francona will figure out how to get this ship into port by the time the division is decided in five months.