Cleveland Indians: Grim future predicted for rest of 2021
The Cleveland Indians are 28-23, and 3.5 games out of first place. They begin their biggest series of the season on Memorial Day, but some have a gloom outlook for the rest of 2021.
ESPN’s Brad Doolittle and David Schoenfield predict the Tribe and Twins will flip spots in the AL Central standings by the time the smoke settles on the current campaign.
Doolittle noted how the rotation hasn’t been that great, and he’s right. Bieber, Civale, and pray the other three guys rally. With Zach Plesac going down with the crazy broken finger injury, the rotation is as weak as it’s been in years. Rookies are getting the chance to plug the other three spots, with Sam Hentges, Triston McKenzie and Eli Morgan getting shots.
Ideally, Cal Quantrill, who has been excellent out of the bullpen, will step into one of those rotation spots eventually, Quantrill was terrible in the spring, which is why he was moved to the pen. But he may get another shot at starting out of necessity. According to reports, the Indians view him as a future starter.
Doolittle also noted how Jose Ramirez is basically carrying the offense. That’s hard to argue, especially with Franmil Reyes going down with a strained oblique. I mean, it’s Memorial Day and Jake Bauers, who’s produced very little this year, is still on the roster.
As for the Twins, they’re 21-31. Doolittle believes they have too much talent to be this bad. I tend to agree with him here, but only about the Twins’ lineup. They should be able to hit and score runs. That said, their rotation isn’t all that great, although it’s probably better than the Indians right now.
I was surprised Minnesota’s starters were able to be too good a season ago. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I’ll see.
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At this point, the only way the Twins should catch the Indians is if Cleveland completely falls apart. It’s possible, with suspect rotation and nights of absent offense, but that why Terry Francona’s here. If there’s one guy who knows how to get the most out of his players, it’s Tito.