The Tribe finishes their season series with a visit from the Tampa Bay Rays and conclude a short five game homestand. The three game set is scheduled for Friday May 31 at 7:05 PM and matinees on Saturday June 1 and Sunday June 2 at 1:05 PM. After the game, they will visit the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers in succession.
Team in a Box
Tampa Bay Rays |
Offense |
AL Rank |
Pitching |
AL Rank |
|||
2013 Record |
29-24 |
Runs/Game |
4.94 |
5th |
Runs/Game |
4.56 |
10th |
AL East |
4th |
OBP |
.332 |
4th |
H/9 |
8.2 |
2nd |
Last 10 |
6-4 |
SLG |
.423 |
8th |
BB/9 |
3.2 |
9th |
Last 30 |
19-11 |
Steals |
25 |
9th |
SO/9 |
8.3 |
5th |
The lineup is improved from when we saw them last. They are league average or better in most categories. They have the fourth best on-base percentage and that has pushed them up to fifth in runs even though they are eighth in slugging. They make decent contact as well with having the fifth fewest strikeouts. The pitching, the backbone of the 21012 team, has not been nearly as good as hoped. They are near the bottom in ERA, runs and hits given up. Only two guys in the rotation have been better than league average and the pen has routinely given up leads. They have an alright defense, but are dead last in double plays turned.
Projected Lineup
Pos |
Player |
Bats |
PA |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS+ |
2B |
Ben Zobrist |
S |
225 |
249 |
347 |
368 |
100 |
RF |
Matt Joyce |
L |
164 |
264 |
348 |
507 |
134 |
LF |
Kelly Johnson |
L |
172 |
290 |
349 |
548 |
145 |
3B |
Evan Longoria |
R |
206 |
311 |
370 |
529 |
147 |
1B |
James Loney |
L |
190 |
329 |
392 |
500 |
147 |
DH |
Luke Scott |
L |
90 |
268 |
389 |
423 |
127 |
CF |
Desmond Jennings |
R |
220 |
255 |
324 |
418 |
105 |
C |
Jose Molina |
R |
102 |
247 |
280 |
344 |
73 |
SS |
Yunel Escobar |
R |
184 |
228 |
286 |
359 |
79 |
The lineup was recently shifted, moving Zobrist to the top of the lineup and Jennings dropped to seventh. The only weak links in the lineup appear to be Escobar and Molina, which means they both will go nuts in this series. But Molina seems to be splitting time evenly with Jose Lobaton. James Loney has revitalized his career this season and Johnson and Longoria are supplying plenty of power. Reserves include Ryan Roberts, Sam Fuld and Sean Rodriguez.
Projected Starters
Date |
Player |
Throws |
ERA |
IP |
ERA+ |
H/9 |
BB/9 |
K/9 |
May 31 |
Matt Moore (Kluber) |
L |
2.21 |
61.0 |
179 |
5.8 |
4.1 |
8.3 |
June 1 |
Chris Archer* (Jimenez) |
R |
4.60 |
29.1 |
84 |
7.1 |
4.0 |
11.0 |
June 2 |
Jeremy Hellickson (McAllister) |
R |
5.61 |
69.0 |
71 |
8.6 |
2.5 |
6.9 |
*2012 stats
The Indians catch a break here as we only face one their top two starters in this series. Moore is having a great 2013 season and in the past has been effective against us with a 4.02 ERA and 8.0 K/9 in three career starts against us. He pitched 6 shutout innings with eight strikeouts and only allowing two hits in the game back in April. Archer is the former Tribe farmhand, drafted in the fifth round in 2006. He went to the Cubs in the DeRosa trade and landed in Tampa for Matt Garza. This will be his 2013 debut. Hellickson has been much better against us, 2.37 ERA in 3 starts with a 1.053 WHIP but only 5.2 K/9. He didn't face us in the first series.
Key Relievers
Player |
Throws |
ERA |
IP |
ERA |
H/9 |
BB/9 |
K/9 |
Fernando Rodney |
R |
5.16 |
22.2 |
77 |
6.4 |
7.5 |
11.5 |
Joel Peralta |
R |
2.08 |
26.0 |
192 |
5.5 |
3.8 |
9.7 |
Jake McGee |
L |
6.64 |
20.1 |
60 |
9.3 |
4.4 |
12.0 |
Rodney has made 44 appearances over the years against Cleveland and has been ok, a 4.02 ERA, 8.2 K/9 and 12 saves. This year, the Indians scored two runs off him in 0.2 innings. He has routinely been blowing saves lately. Peralta has made 27 appearances against us and is 3.90 ERA, 7.8 K/9. He did pitch 1.2 perfect innings earlier this season against us. McGee was lit up pretty good in 2012 (15.43 ERA in 2.1 IP) but pitched 1 perfect inning this season. Cesar Ramos, Jamey Wright and Kyle Farnsworth also will probably pitch, with Wright having the best 2013.
On the Shelf
- RP Juan Oviedo (Tommy John surgery) - 60-day DL, possible late 2013
- SP Jeff Niemann (right shoulder) - 60-day DL, out for season
- RP Brandon Gomes (right lat strain) - 15-day DL, no timetable for return
- SP David Price (strained left triceps) ) - 15-day DL, no timetable for return
With Niemann and Price out, Roberto nee Fausto Hernandez has moved into the rotation, and been quite good lately.
Almanac
W |
L |
Pct |
RS |
RA |
Pythag |
|
2013 |
1 |
2 |
333 |
13 |
10 |
618 |
2012 |
4 |
4 |
500 |
34 |
39 |
438 |
Last 5* |
18 |
20 |
474 |
183 |
185 |
495 |
Last 10* |
44 |
34 |
564 |
393 |
344 |
561 |
All-Time |
74 |
48 |
607 |
663 |
517 |
612 |