It doesn't really matter where the Indians get their 2012 starting pitchers, as long as they're effective, but consider this: after having so many difficulties developing starting pitching, the Indians are now at least developing decent starters. Ubaldo Jimenez was acquired by sending three home-grown pitching prospects to Colorado, and four of the five others that will likely fill out the rotation were either drafted or signed by the Indians.
Jeanmar Gomez, while he doesn't seem to be top-of-the-rotation material, has been effective over the past two seasons, and he's still 23. He went six innings tonight, giving up two runs and six hits while striking out three. His fastball was in the low 90s, but his slider seemed to be giving Chicago hitters the most difficulty.
Lonnie Chisenhall accounted for the first four Indians runs. He took Mark Buerhle deep twice, hitting a two-run homer in the second inning, and another two-run shot in the sixth. After Chisenhall's second homer, the Indians scored three more runs to put the game out of reach; with runners on first and second, Ezequiel Carrera drove home a run with would should have been a double (he fell down after rounding first, and even though he made it second, his hit was scored a single), and Kosuke Fukudome drove two more home with a single.
Nick Hagadone pitched the ninth, and had an adventuresome inning. He walked two, hit a batter, and a run scored on a passed ball, but he struck out Gordon Beckham to end the game.
| Highest WPA | Lowest WPA | ||
| Chisenhall | .411 | Cabrera | -.091 |
| Gomez | .098 | Duncan | -.033 |
| Fukudome | .065 | Crowe | -.032 |