Cleveland Indians: Previewing the three-game series against Texas

The Cleveland Indians will try to bounce back against a vulnerable Texas Rangers team after an abysmal weekend series against Seattle.

It was anything but a fun weekend for the Cleveland Indians. If you feel bad about missing any of the games to see Avengers: Infinity War, know that your time was better spent.

Corey Kluber pitched a terrific game for much of Friday night against the Mariners. The next two days Seattle beat the crap out of the Tribe. The M’s won 12-4 on Saturday and 10-4 on Sunday. The series really exposed a lot of the Indians’ problems. They are two reliant on the long ball, and their pitching can’t get them out of every situation.

Now the Tribe will face a Rangers team that has fallen on much harder times. Most of the Texas Rangers stars have hit the disabled list. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games, winning three of their last four.

This Rangers team is a model that the Indians are trying to avoid. After having the best record in the AL in 2016, a quick playoff elimination sent the team spiraling last season when they missed the playoffs. The Indians handled the Rangers last season, going 6-1 against them in 2017. Let’s see how they stack up this time around.

Projected Lineups

Texas Rangers (11-18) vs Cleveland Indians (14-12)

Texas Rangers: CF Delino DeShields, RF Shin-Soo Choo, 2B Isiah Kiner-Falefa, DH Nomar Mazara 1B Joey Gallo, 3B Renato Nunez, SS Jurickson Profar, C Robinson Chirinos, LF Ryan Rua

Cleveland Indians: SS Francisco Lindor, 2B Jason Kipnis, 3B Jose Ramirez, LF Michael Brantley, DH Edwin Encarnacion, 1B Yonder Alonso, RF Tyler Naquin, CF Bradley Zimmer

You may be surprised by some of the names in the Rangers lineup. Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor, and Adrian Beltre are all on the DL for Texas. They haven’t fared terribly without these stars, and it leaves the team vulnerable.

Cleveland may have to make some changes to their lineup at some point. They simply aren’t getting great offensive results from the current lineup. Lindor in the leadoff spot is beginning to get stale. Jose Ramirez or Michael Brantley may fare better at the top of the lineup.