Cleveland Indians: 3 takeaways from the series victory over the White Sox

The Cleveland Indians needed a series victory and got one this past weekend against the Chicago White Sox. Here is what stood out from the three games.

The Cleveland Indians had a road trip to forget last week, making the weekend series against the Chicago White Sox an important one.

The Indians didn’t have a great series, but winning two of three was a nice change from how the week began. Perhaps I’m also bitter the team lost on Saturday, breaking my winless streak when at Progressive Field.

Anyway, the two wins came thanks to great pitching and clutch performances at the plate, a nice change from the blowouts in Colorado.

Here is what stood out from the weekend series.

1. Edwin is on fire

Edwin Encarnacion hit a home run on Friday, hit another one on Saturday and got robbed of one on Sunday after he hit the ball so high it was deemed to be foul. So it goes.

He finished the series going 6-for-11 with those two home runs and four RBI. He also picked up two doubles in the series.

His average is now up to .246 and will hopefully remain on the rise as the season continues. This type of play is what fans have been waiting for, and it appears Encarnacion has found his swing at just the right time.

2. Beware of Miller

Andrew Miller is having an insane season. After 3.2 innings of scoreless work over the weekend his ERA is down to 0.29, having allowed just one single run this season. That one run came in a game the Indians won, so he has still not shown any sign of being mortal in 2017.

Miller had a vintage outing on Friday, going two innings and striking out four batters, only to follow it up with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings on Sunday.

At this point it is surprising when Miller even allows a hit or walks a batter. And while some may want him to be the closer, he fits perfectly in this role of high-leverage reliever.

3. Kluber remains sharp

Corey Kluber was not his usual self at the start of the season. Then came his injury on May 2 and fans wondered whether he would go back to being the ace we had grown to admire.

Two starts into his return and he has been just that, with his start on Friday cementing his status as the ace of the staff. He went six innings, allowing three runs and striking out eight in the 7-3 victory. And to top it off, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen finished off the game, bringing back Cleveland’s favorite trio.

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Perhaps Kluber began the year injured and tried to pitch through it, but he appears healthy now and ready to lead this rotation toward another playoff berth.