Boston newcomer Chris Sale, Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka and Texas lefty Cole Hamels are among the No. 1 starters on the mound - along with several pitchers who have been surprising stars this season.
The Indians, who entered Wednesday night's game against the Tigers a half-game out of first place in the AL Central, will have to make do without Kluber for at least a little while.
"Neither one is feeling like they need one", Indians manager Terry Francona said. He singled in his first two at-bats against Norris, so perhaps that's a sign of better things to come.
Justin Verlander (2-2) won for the first time since opening day, allowing two runs and four hits while walking four in seven innings. In 20 career outings against Detroit, he is 6-7 with a 4.77 ERA. The catcher and first baseman was in the midst of strong start to 2017 with the Tigers, hitting.423 with a 1.098 OPS in seven games for Detroit.
"We said all along we wanted to avoid big, long-term injuries, and the 10-day DL certainly helped us here, since it's five-days shorter than before", Ausmus said. Francona said that Kluber had an MRI on his back a while ago, but none of them revealed any problems that would have had him go on the DL. "That's impactful. He's had a lot to deal with". This was Almonte's first start in center field this year, and that play was the only one which presented any challenge for him. Hicks was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday.
Nominees in key categories for Broadway's Tony Awards
They gathered for a potluck meal in Gander - the town that nearly doubled in population on September 11, 2001 when terror attacks closed US air space.
"I feel good", Cabrera said.
Boyd showed some resiliency in his last start against the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
Kluber struggled with many of his pitches, but was pleased with the fastball that Cabrera drove into the bullpen. Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer in the seventh off Cody Reed. "They got onto a few fastballs, and the next inning, they led off with a ball that got lost up in the sky". "The guy goes out there and pitches seven innings, you have to tip your cap. That's really all it was".
Robbie Ray (2-2) struck out 10 against the team that drafted and signed him in 2010 but allowed two runs and four hits over six innings.
Mike Clevinger has had an incredible start to the season in Columbus and can come up right away for a start or two.
Comments