Game of the Week: July 31: CLE @ BOS

[Commissioner Erick]

Cleveland Indians (54-50) @ Boston Red Sox (53-53)


CLE: Corey Kluber (11-6, 3.28)
BOS: Chris Sale (7-8, 3.34)



The Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians clash in a battle of solid, but disappointing teams. Cleveland has failed to assert itself in the American League Central, while Boston falls farther and farther back in the Wild Care chase. Each team will have the chance to right itself tonight.

Boston has faced injury adversity all year, with Mookie Betts out for the year and Dustin Pedroia playing only 38 games. Adrian Beltre and Jonathan Lucroy have been strong additions since coming for Texas, but the offense still has fits and spurts, including scoring one run or fewer in a stretch of five of six games a week ago.

It's strange to say, but the backups and replacements have carried Boston this year. Rusney Castillo has 13 home runs, tied for second on the team. Bryce Brentz has a .924 OPS. Jose Ramirez is hitting .353. These were not the guys who were supposed to be leading Boston, but if the Red Sox turn things around, those guys will be remembered for holding down the fort.

Boston will face one of baseball's best as he duels Corey Kluber. Kluber was the pitcher of the month for June before an 8-run disaster against San Diego inflated his ERA for July. He's still the AL strikeout leader, fifth in ERA, and is one of only two AL pitchers to throw multiple shutouts this year, with Chris Sale being the other.

The Red Sox will face the Indians without Jason Kipnis who is out for two months with a strained hamstring. Cleveland still has intense power hitters in their order, with Giancarlo Stanton the most dangerous with 29 home runs so far. Nonetheless, Arismendy Alcantara doesn't conjure images of danger as Kipnis does. In fact, with a .579 OPS, Alcantera has been worth -0.7 WAR this season. Fortunately, Cleveland has veteran depth at Columbus if they feel they need to make a switch.

Cleveland has seen Edwin Encarnacion undertake a depressing season. Expected to be a thumping bat in the middle of the lineup, Encarnacion has provided some power, with 19 home runs. However, it's come at the expense of a .222 average and .303 on-base percentage. Given how he plays DH almost exclusively, he's only been worth 0.3 WAR this year.

Cleveland will need him to turn things around to do damage in October this season.


Questions for the GMs:


For David Springgay, a little off-topic, but the most expensive front office salary in your organization belongs to Craig Bjornson, pitching coach of Short-A Mahoning Valley. He makes almost 10 times more than that team's manager, and almost 500K more than the major league pitching coach, Mickey Callaway. Why shell so much cash out for him?

With Kipnis out and Alcantera struggling, who will be playing second base for you this game?

Edwin Encarnacion seems to be coasting. Is there anything to do about his lackadaisical play?

For Keegan Mackinnon, how do you feel the additions of Beltre and LuCroy help your team?

It's Steven Wright's turn in the rotation, but Chris Sale is rested. Who will we see and why?

Joba Chamberlain had a 2.18 ERA out of your pen, and now will miss the season due to injury. How can you replace him?

[Commissioner Erick]

Indians 13 Red Sox 1


WP: C. Kluber (12-6)
LP: S. Wright (3-4)



The Boston Red Sox decided against starting Chris Sale out of turn against the Cleveland Indians. The way Corey Kluber pitched it may not as mattered.

Corey Kluber pitched a gem, Steven Wright's knuckleball wasn't knuckling, and the Cleveland Indians blasted the Boston Red Sox 13-1.

Wright got the call and was wholly ineffective, giving up runs during each of the first four innings. Giancarlo Stanton teed off for a home run in the first inning, Aaron Hill singled home Bradley Zimmer in the second, Eduardo Nunez singled, stole second, and came around the bases on two groundouts for a manufactured third run in the third inning.

Cleveland broke the game open in the fourth, though. With men on the corners, Aaron Hill hit a line drive Xander Bogaerts knocked down but couldn't make a play on for an RBI infield single. Yan Gomes topped a ground ball that Bogaerts had to eat to load the bases. Nunez singled in two more runs, though Gomes was caught advancing to third. Stanton grounded a single to put two men on, before Carlos Santana hit the first line drive to the deep outfield to bring in another run. All the damage in the inning had come on grounders and low liners. Still, it was 7-0 Cleveland, and Corey Kluber was rolling.

Despite not striking out a single batter, Kluber allowed only two hits and no walks over the first four innings. He struck out Jonathan Lucroy to lead off the fifth, but also allowed a solo home run to Brock Holt. Still, it was 7-1 at that point, so Kluber could afford to attack the strike zone.

He worked around a two-out single in the sixth, finally running into real trouble in the seventh. Xander Bogaerts walked leading off the inning after a 10-pitch at bat. Jonathan Lucroy swung at the first pitch of his at bat disappointedly and flew out. Bogaerts took advantage of being ignored at first base to steal second before Dustin Pedroia walked. Holt followed and fell behind 0-2 before digging out of the hole and working a walk.

With Boston threatening and Kluber on the ropes, it seemed like a chance for the Red Sox to get back into the game. Rusney Castillo laced a ball to second base though that Aaron Hill nabbed on a full sprint. Dustin Pedroia didn't break back to the bag immediately and Hill beat him to second, ending the rally on the spot.

From there, the wind was out of Boston's sails. They allowed six runs the final pair of innings, highlighted by an Edwin Encarnacion home run. Kluber worked into the ninth walking the three batters in the seventh, fanning five, and allowing just one run. Every hitter for Cleveland had a base hit and eight batters scored.


Questions for the GMs:


For David Springgay, you went with Aaron Hill as your second baseman. Why did you make the decision to go with him, specifically?

You moved Giancarlo Stanton up to the second spot in the order. What are you looking for with Stanton in the two-hole?

Bradley Zimmer is back on the team and starting in center field. He had a couple hits including a double. Why do you think he's ready now to be your starting center fielder?

For Keegan Mackinnon, why did you go with Wright as opposed to a rested Sale?

Dustin Pedroia is a veteran who made a key baserunning error in the seventh inning. What do you say to such a respected captain of the clubhouse when he makes such a frustrating mistake?

Bartolo Colon now has a 6.88 ERA on the year. Is he mostly still around for his veteran presence at this point?

[indiansgm]

With Alcantara struggling and the team struggling as well we felt the team needed a strong veteran presence added to help stabalize the team. Hill is a solid veteran that can produce and help propel this team forward until Kipnis returns.

We made changes to the lineup as the team was struggling a shakeup was needed to wake our offence up the front of our rotation is still dominant our bullpen has turned ghe corner this change was about getting giancarlo the most at bats possible. We get the offense woken up the pitching staff coming arpund get set up for a deep playoff run.

Zimmer was performing well in Columbus and with the offence struggling a change was needed Zims speed and defence will be a major asset moving forward