Workout today - Twins tomorrow

Baseball is back - in Texas, as the Astros visit the Rangers. Everyone else starts tomorrow, including the Indians, who host the Twins in a battle for the AL Central. The Indians start the second half 5.5 games behind the Twins.

Other Indians News

Five things I’ll remember about the 2019 All-Star Game 20 years from now - cleveland.com - Maybe MLB should just hold the All-Star Game at Progressive Field every year. Hey, it's a thought.

Now Cleveland's a contender, so decisions loom - With the team in contention, they will not be going into a full “sellers” mode. Instead, they could attempt to do a mix of both, since their tight budget prevents them from being full-blown buyers.

Collision course: Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins clash Friday, top arms at the ready - cleveland.com - The Indians will have an optional workout Thursday at 7 p.m. Manager Terry Francona said his four All-Stars, Lindor, Shane Bieber, Carlos Santana and Brad Hand, have permission to skip it and rest. Another element to the day has Carlos Carrasco scheduled to talk to reporters about his leukemia diagnosis at the workout. It’s possible Carrasco will throw a bullpen session as well.

Confessions of a former Cleveland Indians mascot | Toledo Blade - Don’t ask me how I got the job, but I was the Cleveland Indians’ mascot, Tom E. Hawk, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on the shores of Lake Erie during the 1982 season.

Around the League

• Jim Bouton, pitcher and author of baseball memoir Ball Four, has died at age 80
• Nine things we learned in the first half
• All-Stars and the CBA
• Dodgers activate Corey Seager
• Stealing first base? It will happen soon in the Atlantic League