Pregame Notes: Cleveland Indians look for series split behind red-hot Cody Anderson

Cleveland Indians’ Anderson is the first pitcher in the Modern Era to start big league career with four consecutive starts of 6.2 innings and no more than one run allowed

Nobody has been better than Cody Anderson over the last few weeks. 

And that’s saying something on a Cleveland Indians’ staff surrounded by the likes of Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer.

In just four starts before the All-Star Break, Anderson became the first pitcher since at least 1914 to throw 6.2 innings while allowing one run or less in his first four career starts. Much like the rest of the staff, Anderson hasn’t received much offensive support so his minuscule 0.89 ERA has only led to a 2-1 record. Unlike the Tribe’s staff, though, Anderson has made all this noise without leaning heavily – or at all, really – on the strikeout.

His most recent start came nearly two weeks ago in what was another impressive outing at home – a one-run effort over 6.2 innings pitched despite fanning just one batter. He threw just 79 pitches in a remarkably efficient outing.

Anderson will toe the rubber for the third time on the road, where he has fared very well thus far. The 25-year-old right-hander tossed eight innings apiece in his first two road starts, allowing a combined two runs in what amounted to a mere 1-1 record.

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He’ll be pitted this afternoon against 15-year veteran Kyle Lohse, who has labored through the first half of the 2015 campaign.

In 19 starts this season, Lohse has posted an ugly 6.17 ERA to go alongside a 5-10 record – and he’s been far worse at home. The veteran hurler has allowed 13 home runs in 10 starts in Miller Park while hanging an 8.06 ERA on the board. He is 1-5 in day games and 3-6 in Milwaukee, which bodes well for a sputtering (again) Cleveland offense.

The Indians will have to be better with runners in scoring position after going 1-for-11 in run-scoring situations in last night’s 8-1 loss.

Here are the starting lineups:

News & Notes:

-There is no denying Carlos Santana has been entrenched in the worst season of his career. While he’s a respectable 4-for-14 (.286) in four games since the All-Star Break, Santana’s .224/.358/.743 slash line is unacceptable – as is his putrid .191 average with runners in scoring position. But is it time to trade him? According to Kevin Gall of Burning River Baseball, it’s far too soon to trade Santana:

Dating back to Santana’s first full season in the big leagues, he has played better in the second half in every season except 2013, when he played excellent the entire season. Given this history of excelling in the waning months of the season, the Indians are likely much more willing to deal with his first half struggles knowing there is a great chance he’s going to heat up soon.

-The Indians were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position last night and hit into three double plays (three of which came with runners in scoring position). Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer broke down each of their run-scoring opportunities if you care to relive the horror.

–Saturday is Doby Day at Progressive Field, as the Indians will unveil the new Larry Doby statue at 4:45 p.m. at the stadium’s right field gate. Speakers include Indians owner Paul Dolan, Jim “Mudcat” Grant and Larry Doby Jr. Others expected to be in attendance include members of the Doby family, Bill Robinson, current Indians roster players and Indians President Mark Shapiro.

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