Cleveland Indians: 2 players who’ve justified team’s faith and 1 who hasn’t

Nick Sandlin

How many of you were expecting this name to crop up? Relief pitcher Nick Sandlin has flown under the radar since his call-up in April to replace the aforementioned Logan Allen. Most of the Indians relievers have been cast in the shadow of flame-throwing dynamos James Karinchak and Emmanual Clase, but more attention should be paid to the valuable innings Sandlin has given the Indians.

In 17 2/3 innings, for the Indians, Sandlin owns a 2.04ERA and has sent down an impressive 26 batters via the strikeout. A lot of those relief appearances haven’t come late in close games, since Cleveland has a formidable late inning trio, but he has provided meaningful innings pitched in the middle innings during a tough stretch where the Tribe’s starting pitching has wobbled due to injury and inconsistency.

So far Sandlin has repaid the Indians’ faith in him, especially as he only had nine total innings pitched in Triple-A, and his role should expand later in games as the Tribe’s bullpen racks up innings due to the wounded starting rotation which currently only has one true, healthy and reliable starter.