Cleveland Indians Travel to Texas For Clash of First Place Teams

Numbers to know

7.41

Cole Hamels has put together a solid major league pitching career, except when he is pitching against Cleveland. In three career starts against the Tribe, he has a 7.41 ERA. Hamels has made one start against Cleveland this year, in which he went seven innings and only gave up three runs. Game four starter Derek Holland is on the other end of the spectrum, as he is 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA in eight career starts against the Tribe.

4

Globe Life Park is one of the best hitters parks in baseball, and the Rangers offense has feasted off of this. Four of their players are over 20 home runs on the year, with Rougned Odor leading the pack with 23. Mitch Moreland and Adrian Beltre are tied for second with 21, and comeback player of the year nominee Ian Desmond has 20. Moreland leads those four with 12 dingers at home. The Indians have three players over 20 home runs, as Mike Napoli leads everyone with 29 bombs, Carlos Santana has 27, and Jason Kipnis has 20.

333

As mentioned above, the Rangers hit for power with great proficiency. The same can’t be said for their ability to draw walks. The Rangers have only drawn 333 walks this year, which is good for 27th in baseball. Elvis Andrus leads the team with 37, which is currently tied for 91st in the league. The Indians are 14th overall with 385 walks, with Santana leading the charge at 68 free passes on the season.

Next: Who to Watch

Names To Know

Nomar Mazara

Nomar Mazara is, like the Tribe’s Tyler Naquin, a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate in the American League. The 21-year old right fielder has put together a very good year, slashing .280/.333/.427 with 13 doubles,15 home runs, and 49 RBI, and has flashed a capable glove as well with a 11.9 UZR/150. His 1.6 fWAR is second among AL rookies only to Naquin. Mazara might have to enter a platoon though, due to the addition of Carlos Gomez.

Derek Holland

Holland will look to build on his career success against the Indians when he makes his second start since coming off the disabled list in the series finale. One of his four career wins against Cleveland came earlier this year when he threw six innings of one run ball to beat the Indians. Holland pitched well in his first start off the DL, surrendering one run in six innings in a loss to the Reds.

The 15 starts Holland has made in 2016 equals the number he managed in 2014 and 2015 combined. Effective when healthy, the lefty has been unable to steer clear of injuries, and has been limited to just 78.2 innings this season, in which he has been below league average with an ERA+ of 92 to go along with a 4.92 ERA and 4.61 FIP.

Next: On the Bump

Pitching Probables

Game one of the series will feature Josh Tomlin (11-7, 4.39 ERA) and Hamels (13-4, 2.80 ERA). This could be Tomlin’s make or break start for the Indians, as he’s given up six runs in three of his four past starts, and another poor outing could mean have the club looking elsewhere for rotation help down the stretch.

Hamels is in the midst of his first full year with the Rangers, and is pitching like the ace they wanted when they got him. He is 20-5 with a 3.10 ERA since being acquired, and is showing no signs of slowing down, as he gave up one run over 7.1 innings in his last start.

Corey Kluber (13-8, 3.13 ERA) will go against Martin Perez (8-9, 4.27 ERA) in game two with the hopes the Tribe ace can continue his #CyKluber campaign. Kluber has put his name back into the Cy Young conversation with his pitching as of late, giving up seven earned runs over his past 26.2 innings. Perez has been subpar over the past month and a half, going 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA sine July.

Carlos Carrasco (9-6, 3.12 ERA) will look to build on his stellar outing the last time out when he goes against  A.J Griffin (5-3, 4.68 ERA) on Saturday. Carrasco shut down the Athletics his last time out, tossing eight shutout innings en route to a 1-0 Indians victory. Griffin will be looking to move past his recent pitching performances, as he is is 1-4 with a 5.19 ERA in eight starts since the all-star break.

Next: Has Danny Salazar Become a Liability?

The series finale on Sunday will feature Holland and the struggling Danny Salazar. In two starts since returning the DL, Salazar has allowed nine runs on nine hits in six innings of work, striking out three and walking six. Cleveland needs the 26-year old right-hander to get himself back on track heading into September, but he’ll face a stern test in Arlington.