Cleveland Indians vs. Chicago Cubs series preview

Most of the good will the Tribe generated on the road trip through Seattle and Kansas City has dissipated. Back to back series losses at home to the Orioles and Mariners, along with the most recent loss in Detroit against the hated Tigers has the team searching once again for answers. The call-ups of Giovanny Urshela and Francisco Lindor are hopefully some of those answers, but it is way too soon to tell.

The Tribe embark on a home and home with the surprising Chicago Cubs, who sit seven games over 0.500 this season. A few key offseason moves and the emergence of a very strong group of prospects has the Cubs in the thick of the playoff race. Kris Bryant (the Cubs version of Lindor, only with a lot more power), Addison Russell and Jorge Soler are the triple threats. Luckily for the Tribe, they will miss Soler. The first two games will be in Wrigley, with the final two at Progressive.

• Monday 8:05 PM: Trevor Bauer (R) vs. Jake Arrieta (R)
• Tuesday 8:05 PM: Shaun Marcum (R) vs. Tsuyoshi Wada (L)
• Wednesday 7:05 PM: Jason Hammel (R) vs. Danny Salazar (R)
• Thursday 7:05 PM: Kyle Hendricks (R) vs. Carlos Carrasco (R)

The Week Ahead:

After the Cubs leave on Thursday, the Indians welcome the Rays and Tigers to complete the home stand. This will be the first matchup with the Rays this season and the fourth of six series in 2015.

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Division Watch: Royals vs. Brewers, Twins vs. Cardinals, Tigers vs Reds, White Sox vs. Pirates; all series home and home like the Indians/Cubs series.

Team in a Box

The Cubs just wrapped up taking three of four from the Reds over the weekend and split a two gamer with the Tigers just prior. They have been pretty hot over the past month. Offensively, the Cubs have a low average (11th), but are sixth in walks. They also like to run as they have 46 steals on the year. The pitching staff has been better than the hitting. They are fifth in ERA, second in fewest walks given and second in strikeouts. Defensively, they sit fourteenth in the NL in fielding percentage. So, in short, this team is very similar to the Indians.

Projected Roster

As the Tribe hasn't played he Cubs since 2009, most of the hitters have never played against the Indians, unless they previously played elsewhere. Of the current hitting roster, only six have any plate appearances. Montero will get to reunite with old buddy Trevor Bauer. He has 573 OPS in 33 PA (2011, 2014). Coghlan got into just one game in 2012. Fowler has a 260 OPS in 32 PA (2014). Herrera has a 757 OPS in 23 PA (2011, 2104). Denorfia has a 721 OPS in 21 PA (2008, 2014). And the player with the most PA is Ross. He has a 854 OPS in 56 PA covering six different seasons (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014).

Coghlan has beenth ehot bat in the past 30 days. He has a 932 OPS in 76 PA with four homers. Rizzo and Bryant both are above 800 OPS with three homers apiece. But the most power has been Montero, with five long balls. I would expect Baxter to DH on Wednesday and Thursday as he has a 1072 OPS in the past 2 weeks.

Projected Staff

Arrieta (and Strop) came over from the Orioles in 2013 is the Soctt Feldman trade. In his past five starts, Arrieta has a 3.38 in 32 IP with just four walks and 35 strikeouts. He has a 9.20 ERA against Cleveland in three starts, but that was from 2010-2012. Wada hasn't made it out the fourth inning in his past two starts and he has never faced the Indians. Hammel has been even better than Arrieta over his past five starts, 2.41 ERA, 0,92 WHIP and 10.4 K/9. He is winless in his eight appearances (31.2 IP), four starts, and a 5.40 ERA. Hendricks was the spoils from the Ryan Dempster in 2012. He has a 2.25 ERA, 0,94 WHIP and 8.2 ERA in his past five starts.

Rondon, a former Tribe farmhand, was lost in the Rule 5 draft in 2012. He has found a home with the Cubs. He took over the closer's role last year is now 40 of 49 in save opportunities. Motte was a former closer with the Cardinals, leading the league in 2012 with 42, but has battled injuries ever since.

On the Shelf

• RF Jorge Soler [15 day DL], possible mid-June return
• 3B Mike Olt [60 day DL], possible June return
• P Jacob Turner [60 day DL], no timetable for return
• 2B Tommy La Stella [15 day DL], no timetable for return
• P Neil Ramirez [15 day DL], possible June return

Almanac

Prediction: The Tribe really needs to take three of four as the season seems to keep slipping away. They can't keep falling behind the other teams in contention for the playoffs. Based on the matchups though, I am hard pressed to call anything but a split, with even a chance the Indians just win one.