Cleveland Indians: Biggest series of 2021 starts Memorial Day
The Cleveland Indians can get their season trending back in the right direction with the Chicago White Sox visiting Progressive Field for a four-game series that commences Memorial Day.
Ideally, the Indians would take three of the four games, but a split might be more realistic, which is fine.
If anything, the Tribe, down 3.5 games in the AL Central can’t afford to be swept, or even lose three games. The White Sox are without two of their best players, Eloy Jimenez and Louis Robert, while manager Tony La Russa threw fan favorite Yermin Mercedes under the bus not too far back, yet the Southsiders keep rolling.
In a game of threes, here’s three things to be up about and down about heading into the series.
Cleveland Indians trending down
1. They still can’t hit. The Blue Jays came to town, and wow, that’s what a big league team that hits looks like. I can’t believe the Indians were able to salvage the series finale. Toronto even got to Mr. Reliable, Aaron Civale, defeating him in Game 1 of the yesterday’s doubleheader.
2. Worst starting pitching in years The Indians rotation is a mess, and the Blue Jays exposed it, hammering rookie Eli Morgan in his first big-league start. Toronto then hung up four earned runs on Sam Hentges in 2.1 innings in Game 2 of yesterday’s double header.
Fortunately, Shane Bieber should start one of the games this series, which gives the Tribe a fighting chance. Otherwise, Tito’s throwing youngsters against the wall and seeing who sticks until Zach Plesac returns from his broken finger injury.
3. Triston McKenzie, who the White Sox used as a human piñata for the most part, will get one of the starts today. In two starts, spanning 6.0 innings, McKenzie has a 12.00 ERA. He’s allowed two homers and walked six.
Cleveland Indians Trending up
1. Give the Indians credit for their sixth-inning comeback in Game 2 against the Blue Jays. Being down four doesn’t have to feel like being down 4,000.
2. The Indians have played the White Sox pretty evenly up to this point. They’re 4-4, with 27 runs scored and 32 runs against.
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3. These double headers can be helpful for the Tribe, if Cleveland is capable of getting an early lead. In the 7.0 inning double headers, the Tribe doesn’t have to lean too heavily on the starters. Three or four innings will do, then get it to the back end of the bullpen.