Indians recap: Jose Ramirez & Shane Bieber power team to split w/ Royals

Indians series recap: Jose Ramirez & Shane Bieber power team to split with Royals

By Chad Porto | Apr 7, 2021

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 07: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals rounds the bases on a solo homer off starting pitcher Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Indians during the fourth inning at Progressive Field on April 07, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

2 of 3

CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Eddie Rosario #9 of the Cleveland Indians at bat during the ninth inning of the home opener against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 05, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Royals defeated the Indians 3-0. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Series Struggles

Ben Gamel

The starting center field job is a mess. No one knows who’s going to be playing the position at any given time and despite rotating a few guys in and out, no one has proven to Terry Francona that it’s their spot. Ben Gamel is trying his best to capture the position, getting walked and scoring a run in game two of the series, but he’s yet to register a hit through five games.

Cezar Hernandez

While Cezar Hernandez is playing great defense for the Indians, his cold bat is not helping matters. The .277 career hitter is in his second season with Cleveland and is coming off of a season where he hit well; finishing 2020 with a .283 batting average. If the Indians are going to make a real run for the playoffs, he can’t be a liability in the lineup. Hernandez should return to form, eventually, it’s just a matter of when and not so much if.

Roberto Perez

Roberto Perez is just like Cezar Hernandez, a guy who’s playing great defensively but has to step up at the plate if they’re going to compete. Perez went 0-5 with a walk in the series and is right now looking like a far cry from his 2019 season where he hit 24 home runs.

Home/Cleveland Guardians