Friday 5: Biggest Questions Facing the Cleveland Indians During Spring Training

Who will win the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation?

Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Indians rotation has been one of the most celebrated staffs in baseball this offseason, but the No. 5 spot in the rotation is still a significant question mark.

Reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber will top the rotation. Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer are locks to break camp in the majors. And Danny Salazar seems to be the favorite for the No. 4 spot after an impressive finish to 2014.

Fighting for the final spot in the rotation are T.J. House, Zach McCallister, Josh Tomlin and Gavin Floyd.

–T.J. House threw well for the Tribe in a pinch last season. He started 18 games and threw 102 innings, posting an impressive 3.35 ERA. While he is not a Cy Young candidate in the making, House is the perfect No. 5 starter in a rotation. Francona knows what he is going to get from the lefty every time he takes the bump. 

-Zach McCallister seems destined for the bullpen in 2014. He started 15 games in the majors last season and came out of the bullpen seven times, posting a combined ERA of 5.23. He might be available to make spot starts as the season progresses, but the Indians likely will not count on him for any significant starts in the early going.

–Josh Tomlin battled through a lack of command right from the jump, but he did not get much better as the season rolled on. In his first season back from Tommy John surgery, Tomlin labored his way to a 6.33 ERA after the All-Star break – this after posting a 4.21 ERA beforehand.

–Gavin Floyd was signed to a one-year, $4 million contract this offseason and would give the Indians a veteran presence at the back end of the rotation. He is coming off two straight injury-shortened seasons but, when healthy, Floyd can be an effective back-of-the-rotation arm. He was 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA in nine starts for the Braves last season before injuring his elbow. Unfortunately for him, his first appearance of the spring was pushed back a couple of days due to some minor discomfort.

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