It was looking like the 2014 MLB season would finish in mediocre fashion for the Cleveland Indians. When their August 12 date with the Colorado Rockies was called due to rain, the Tribe owned a middling 59-59 record, good for third place in the AL Central, five games back of the surging Kansas City Royals, who had just taken over top spot from the Detroit Tigers.
That evening, the Indians enjoyed an impromptu waterslide which superstitious baseball fans will mark as the start of their solid run during the second half. After winning 15 of their next 24, the Indians still remain five back of the Royals, but have closed the gap in the AL Wild card race to just 4.5 games.
While Cleveland remain distant 66/1 World Series long shots as reported by BettingSports.com on the MLB section of the site, there are lots of reasons for fans of the Tribe to feel good about the team, both this season and next.
Stability Behind and at the Plate
Since coming over in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012, Yan Gomes has developed into one of the best hitting catchers in the majors, entering the second week of September strongly positioned statistically in the top three in batting average, home runs and doubles among American League catchers.
The 27 year-old, who was the first Brazilian to play in the majors, recently signed a six-year, $23 million contract extension, providing the Indians with stability and power behind the plate for the foreseeable future.
A New Ace
Following a slow start to the season, starting pitcher Corey Kluber caught fire for the Indians, winning seven out of eight decisions between late June and early August to emerge as the club’s ace, and help keep them within striking distance of the leaders in the AL Central and Wild Card standings.
With 14 wins and a 2.47 ERA going into the second week of September, Kluber sits statistically in the top five among AL pitchers, receiving Cy Young consideration ahead of such household names as Verlander, Price and Dickey.
Kluber remains on a pre-arbitration contract with the Indians through next season after which he will likely be due a big raise that could keep him in Cleveland for several more years.
Middle Infield Power
Taken by the Indians in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft, Jason Kipnis has quickly developed into one of the American League’s best all-round second basemen. An all-star in 2013, the 27 year-old hit .284 to go along with 84 RBI to lead the Indians to the MLB Post-Season last year for the first time in 2007.
Kipnis has been plagued by injury this season, an oblique muscle strain suffered in April that led to him missing a month of action, but has looked back in form, recording hits in 19 of his last 23 games entering the second week of September.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
