Cleveland Indians: 5 players we’re anxious to watch in 60-game season

5. Brad Hand

Bullpens are going to be counted upon heavily in the shortened season, especially in the early going as starting pitchers ramp up their pitch counts.

I’m anxious to see the Tribe’s closer because he was very shaking during the second half of 2019.

One reliever we should see a lot of in these next 2 1/2 month will be James Karinchak.

I still can’t explain why the Indians waited so long to promote the right-hander toward the end of last season. The Tribe was trying to track down the Twins and Hand was very inconsistent throughout the stretch run. The unit could’ve used an injection of Karinchak much earlier than when he debuted on Sept. 14.

Bullpens are about the hardest thing to predict from season-to-season, so it’s anyone’s guess as to how Hand will respond in the 60-game season.

Hand will be the closer, and if he returns to form, that’s great. A one-two punch of Karinchak and Hand could potentially turn games into seven-inning contests.