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TORONTO ( HUTCHISON )
CLEVELAND ( BAUER ) |
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| 965 | TORONTO | +105 | Ov 8,-110 | +105 | Ov 8.5,-110 | | 966 | CLEVELAND | -115 | Un 8,-110 | -115 | Un 8.5,-110 |
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| All Games | 12-13 | -1.9 | 14-10 | 5.5 | 0.250 | 0.319 | 0.426 | 0.745 | 5.1 | 0.270 | 0.343 | 0.442 | 0.785 | | Road Games | 7-8 | +0 | 9-5 | 5.4 | 0.239 | 0.302 | 0.389 | 0.691 | 5.3 | 0.287 | 0.353 | 0.467 | 0.820 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 8-11 | -3.8 | 10-8 | 5.4 | 0.245 | 0.319 | 0.415 | 0.735 | 5.1 | 0.266 | 0.343 | 0.420 | 0.764 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.2 | 4-3 | 5.4 | 0.250 | 0.323 | 0.400 | 0.723 | 5.3 | 0.312 | 0.377 | 0.454 | 0.832 | | Grass Games | 7-5 | +3.1 | 8-3 | 6.2 | 0.254 | 0.325 | 0.412 | 0.736 | 4.9 | 0.274 | 0.345 | 0.445 | 0.789 | | Day Games | 5-2 | +3.2 | 4-3 | 6.9 | 0.276 | 0.346 | 0.459 | 0.805 | 4.6 | 0.256 | 0.328 | 0.402 | 0.730 |
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| All Games | 5.5 | 0.250 | 0.319 | 25 | 840 | 210 | 52 | 3 | 30 | 0.426 | 128 | 85 | 193 | 14 | 149 | 22 | 15 | 20 | 12 | | Road Games | 5.4 | 0.239 | 0.302 | 15 | 511 | 122 | 31 | 2 | 14 | 0.389 | 73 | 46 | 131 | 10 | 84 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 4 | | Righty Starters | 5.4 | 0.245 | 0.319 | 19 | 638 | 156 | 42 | 2 | 21 | 0.415 | 95 | 70 | 156 | 11 | 124 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 12 |
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| All Games | 3.98 | 1.255 | 83.7 | 42 | 37 | 75 | 10 | 30 | 86 | 4-5 | 5 | 4 | 55.6% | | Road Games | 4.25 | 1.171 | 48.7 | 25 | 23 | 40 | 5 | 17 | 52 | 3-3 | 3 | 3 | 50% |
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| All Games | 8-15 | -10.3 | 10-12 | 4.0 | 0.241 | 0.309 | 0.379 | 0.688 | 4.9 | 0.275 | 0.343 | 0.408 | 0.751 | | Home Games | 3-8 | -7 | 8-3 | 4.4 | 0.243 | 0.321 | 0.361 | 0.682 | 6.6 | 0.312 | 0.377 | 0.468 | 0.845 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 6-7 | -3.4 | 5-7 | 4.2 | 0.252 | 0.318 | 0.404 | 0.722 | 4.7 | 0.274 | 0.335 | 0.408 | 0.743 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -4.6 | 6-1 | 4.9 | 0.258 | 0.340 | 0.415 | 0.755 | 7.1 | 0.324 | 0.378 | 0.494 | 0.872 | | Grass Games | 8-15 | -10.3 | 10-12 | 4.0 | 0.241 | 0.309 | 0.379 | 0.688 | 4.9 | 0.275 | 0.343 | 0.408 | 0.751 | | Day Games | 3-8 | -6.4 | 5-5 | 3.7 | 0.250 | 0.313 | 0.347 | 0.660 | 6.0 | 0.301 | 0.380 | 0.452 | 0.832 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.241 | 0.309 | 23 | 775 | 187 | 39 | 1 | 22 | 0.379 | 90 | 76 | 149 | 12 | 158 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 24 | | Home Games | 4.4 | 0.243 | 0.321 | 11 | 366 | 89 | 22 | 0 | 7 | 0.361 | 48 | 42 | 75 | 6 | 80 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 | | Righty Starters | 4.2 | 0.252 | 0.318 | 13 | 445 | 112 | 21 | 1 | 15 | 0.404 | 53 | 43 | 77 | 9 | 89 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 |
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| All Games | 3.79 | 1.475 | 80.7 | 42 | 34 | 83 | 8 | 36 | 81 | 0-4 | 4 | 3 | 57.1% | | Home Games | 3.86 | 1.510 | 49 | 29 | 21 | 53 | 4 | 21 | 40 | 0-2 | 2 | 2 | 50% |
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| 4/19/2015 | NORRIS(L) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | 2-5 | L | -170 | 8.5 ov | U | 5 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 4/21/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | BALTIMORE | NORRIS(R) | 13-6 | W | -125 | 9 un | O | 16 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 2 | | 4/22/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | 4-2 | W | +105 | 9 un | U | 9 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | | 4/23/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | 7-6 | W | -125 | 8.5 un | O | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | DICKEY(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | SMYLY(L) | 3-12 | L | 115 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 0 | | 4/25/2015 | NORRIS(L) | @ TAMPA BAY | RAMIREZ(L) | 2-4 | L | -105 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 4/26/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | @ TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 1-5 | L | 130 | 7.5 un | U | 5 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 1 | | 4/27/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | @ BOSTON | KELLY(R) | 5-6 | L | 130 | 9 ov | O | 6 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 4/28/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | @ BOSTON | BUCHHOLZ(R) | 11-8 | W | 115 | 8.5 un | O | 17 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 11 | 1 | | 4/29/2015 | DICKEY(R) | @ BOSTON | PORCELLO(R) | 1-4 | L | 145 | 8.5 ov | U | 3 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 1 | | 4/30/2015 | NORRIS(L) | @ CLEVELAND | HOUSE(L) | 5-1 | W | -135 | 8 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 0 | | 5/1/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | @ CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | 4-9 | L | 125 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 0 | | 5/2/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | @ CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 11-4 | W | 165 | 7.5 ov | O | 14 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 1 | | 5/3/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | @ CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | | | 5/4/2015 | DICKEY(R) | NY YANKEES | WHITLEY(R) | | | 5/5/2015 | ESTRADA(R) | NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | | | 5/6/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | NY YANKEES | SABATHIA(L) | | | 5/8/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | BOSTON | MILEY(L) | | | 5/9/2015 | | BOSTON | | | | 5/10/2015 | | BOSTON | | |
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| 4/19/2015 | HOUSE(L) | @ MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | 2-7 | L | -115 | 9 ev | P | 7 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 1 | | 4/20/2015 | BAUER(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | 3-4 | L | 100 | 9 ev | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 4/21/2015 | CARRASCO(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | NOESI(R) | 6-2 | W | -125 | 8.5 un | U | 7 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 4/22/2015 | KLUBER(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SAMARDZIJA(R) | 0-6 | L | -120 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | SALAZAR(R) | @ DETROIT | GREENE(R) | 13-1 | W | 105 | 8 ov | O | 15 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 0 | | 4/25/2015 | HOUSE(L) | @ DETROIT | SIMON(R) | 1-4 | L | 140 | 8.5 un | U | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 0 | | 4/26/2015 | CARRASCO(R) | @ DETROIT | LOBSTEIN(L) | 6-8 | L | -110 | 8 un | O | 10 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 0 | | 4/27/2015 | KLUBER(R) | KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | 2-6 | L | -140 | 6.5 un | O | 4 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 0 | | 4/28/2015 | BAUER(R) | KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 5-11 | L | -130 | 7.5 ev | O | 9 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 7 | 0 | | 4/29/2015 | SALAZAR(R) | KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 7-5 | W | -115 | 7 un | O | 8 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | | 4/30/2015 | HOUSE(L) | TORONTO | NORRIS(L) | 1-5 | L | +125 | 8 un | U | 11 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 5/1/2015 | CARRASCO(R) | TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | 9-4 | W | -135 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 5/2/2015 | KLUBER(R) | TORONTO | SANCHEZ(R) | 4-11 | L | -175 | 7.5 ov | O | 6 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 2 | | 5/3/2015 | BAUER(R) | TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | | | 5/5/2015 | SALAZAR(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | | | 5/6/2015 | CARRASCO(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | DUFFY(L) | | | 5/7/2015 | KLUBER(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | | | 5/8/2015 | BAUER(R) | MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | | | 5/9/2015 | | MINNESOTA | | | | 5/10/2015 | | MINNESOTA | | |
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| |  | TORONTO: TORONTO (AP) - The upcoming season for the Toronto Blue Jays seems destined to be defined by the one young pitcher who'll miss it and the two even younger guys who'll try to replace him.
Toronto's plans for ending baseball's longest active playoff drought took a serious hit when Marcus Stroman suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring training.
The second-year right-hander tore a ligament when his knee buckled as he backed off a bunt during a pregame fielding drill. He's out for the year after undergoing surgery.
''It's tough,'' Stroman said. ''I just feel like I let my team down. I've worked harder than I ever had this offseason.''
The injury changed Toronto's thinking about 22-year-old right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who might have been closing games rather than starting them if Stroman was still healthy, and 21-year-old lefty Daniel Norris, the van-dwelling surfer dude.
The two pitchers now look likely to get their shot in Toronto's rotation, slotting in behind 200-inning workhorses R.A Dickey and Mark Buehrle, and 24-year-old right-hander Drew Hutchison.
How successful they are could well determine what happens to the Blue Jays, out of the postseason since winning their second straight World Series in 1993 and the only team that hasn't reached the playoffs this century.
''We may have to rely on a young guy who may not be proven,'' manager John Gibbons said. ''Stro was a baby, too, but a special guy.''
Sanchez has already shown signs that he could also be special. He excelled out of the bullpen in 24 games last season, posting three saves and a 1.09 ERA in 33 innings, striking out 27 while walking nine and holding opponents to a .128 average.
With the increased demands of a starting role lying ahead, the hard-throwing Sanchez has spent this spring refining his slider.
''With the way he throws, it could turn into a big strikeout pitch for him,'' Gibbons said.
The Blue Jays are also high on Norris, currently better known for spending his winters searching for prime surfing spots while living out of a 1978 Volkswagen camper van nicknamed ''Shaggy.''
''He's a different bird,'' Gibbons said. ''Anytime you live in a van, I wouldn't say that's normal.''
Norris had an abnormal 2014 season, rising from Class A to the majors after going 12-2 with a 2.53 ERA at three minor league stops. He underwent elbow surgery last October to remove bone spurs, and expects to be better this year than the pitcher who made five appearances for the Blue Jays in September.
''He's a student of the game,'' Gibbons said. ''He's a very smart kid and he's grounded. He's got the most important thing: He's got a great arm.''
After Jose Reyes and the Blue Jays went 83-79, here's what else to watch as they try to move up:
MIGHTY MIGUEL: Sanchez and Norris aren't the only impressive young arms expected to break camp with the Blue Jays. Right-hander Miguel Castro, 20, didn't allow a run in his first five spring appearances, striking out eight and walking none while allowing three hits over nine innings. A hard thrower who stands an imposing 6-foot-5, Castro has put himself in position to jump from Class A, where he went 8-3 with a 2.68 ERA last season, all the way to the majors. ''He looks like a seasoned vet out there, under control, very relaxed,'' Gibbons said.
NEW GUYS, NEW FOCUS: Toronto strengthened its lineup over the winter by signing free agent catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $82 million contract and acquiring All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson from Oakland. Slugger Jose Bautista has praised the newcomers for making a difference in the clubhouse with their winning pedigree and intense focus. ''We need something along those lines here every now and then,'' Bautista said. ''It's good to have guys to whom winning matters.''
BLOCKING THE PLATE: Adding Martin gave the Blue Jays a logjam at catcher, where incumbent Dioner Navarro is signed through 2015 and Josh Thole is Dickey's knuckleball specialist. Martin has worked hard this spring to prove he can handle Dickey's floater, which could mean Thole is ticketed for Triple-A. Or, Toronto may yet trade the switch-hitting Navarro to open room at DH for Edwin Encarnacion, who has been slowed this spring by a balky back and may not be able to handle regular duty at first base. | | CLEVELAND: CLEVELAND (AP) - While their AL Central rivals jockeyed during the offseason, one trying to outdo the other to improve their chances of winning a World Series title, the Indians watched.
That was the plan.
No, they didn't make any blockbuster trades, sign a big-name, big-ticket free agent or overhaul their roster with new faces. The Indians, who somehow stayed in contention last season until the waning days of September, didn't feel the need to make radical changes. It wasn't necessary.
The pieces are in place for Cleveland to have a special 2015 season.
''The team knows it,'' said second baseman Jason Kipnis. ''We got two winning seasons in a row. We had an 85-win season when we had about three guys playing good. The possibilities are there, the potential is there. That whole last year we never had more than a seven-game winning streak, never really got hot.
''We got the same corps. Same group of guys. We kind of want another chance at this again - and we're getting another chance.''
The Indians return virtually the same team that went 85-77 last season, finishing third behind division champion Detroit and wild-card winner Kansas City, which ended a postseason drought dating to 1985, won the pennant and pushed San Francisco to seven games in the World Series.
Watching the Royals inspired the Indians. And as he prepares for his third season in Cleveland, manager Terry Francona senses a different drive in his players.
They're hungry.
''Our veteran guys are trying to get better,'' he said. ''Our younger guys are excited to prove what they can do. I didn't see anybody just kind of go home and want to kind of keep the status quo. We're all excited about that.''
Francona said they're upping expectations both on performance and results.
''They're kind of at a stage where they're embracing trying to see if we can go up against some of these teams and, not only maybe hold our own, but maybe do a little more than that,'' Francona said.
There's no denying Francona's magical touch. The man who helped end Boston's supposed baseball curse, who got the Indians to the postseason in 2013, has an uncanny ability to convince players buy in to his program and get them to believe they can overcome any obstacles: injuries, payroll, low expectations, the Tigers lineup.
This spring, Francona didn't have to sell the Indians, who haven't won a World Series since 1948, on the idea they can compete. They already know that. Now it's a matter of taking the next step.
''When guys believe they can do it, and then they start to do it, then you see the confidence take over and guys take off, and you can accomplish a lot,'' he said. ''That's part of the fun of the season, to see how good you can get. I'd rather enjoy, as much as we can, the journey.''
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KLUBER UBER ALLES
All Corey Kluber did in his first major-league season was win 18 games, re-write some record books, dominate almost every time he pitched and win the AL Cy Young.
The 28-year-old could do it again.
Seemingly programmed because of his consistent performances and composed demeanor, Kluber gives the Indians a long-needed and legitimate No. 1 starter capable of winning every time he gets the ball. He scares opponents and makes his teammates better.
The Indians have discussed a long-term contract extension for the right-hander, who isn't even eligible for arbitration.
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YOUR TABLE, MR. BRANTLEY
Michael Brantley just might be baseball's most unassuming star, and he plans to keep it that way. The 27-year-old's breakout 2014 season - he batted .327 with 20 homers, 97 RBIs and a third-place finish in MVP voting - was followed by obligatory can-he-do-it-again questions.
Francona thinks Brantley might be poised for bigger things. The spotlight will find Brantley, but he's not craving it.
''He's so consistent at a high level that I don't see that going away,'' he said. ''He's so confident in what he's doing that I think he enjoys playing the game and the other things that come with it, I think he could take it or leave it. He has a really good understanding of who he is.''
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BETTER BE BETTER
For the Indians to get where they want, Kipnis (.240), CF Michael Bourn (106 games) and DH Nick Swisher (offseason knee surgeries) need to bounce back and produce more than they did in `14.
No position player is more important than Kipnis, a 2013 All-Star who was injured most of last season.
''He can affect the game so many ways - steal a base, get a bunt down, hit a ball in the gap,'' Francona said. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (TORONTO-CLEVELAND) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Blue Jays-Indians Preview* ===========================
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD STATS Writer
Toronto (11-13) at Cleveland (8-14), 1:10 p.m. EDT
The Cleveland Indians are finding it difficult to break free of their worst start in 12 years while scuffling on the mound.
That's a trend the Indians hope to reverse behind Trevor Bauer, who has been their most consistent starter so far.
After moving past his recent bout with food poisoning, Bauer will try provide the hosts with a rare quality start as they try to avoid their seventh loss in nine games Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Giving the ball to ace Corey Kluber didn't help Cleveland (8-15) on Saturday, when the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner allowed five runs over five innings in a 11-4 loss that has the Indians needing a win to split this series.
Cleveland starters have a 7.26 ERA with only one quality start during a 2-6 stretch that has left the club with its worst record through 23 games since opening 7-16 en route to a 94-loss season in 2003.
Now Bauer (2-0, 1.80 ERA) will try to turn things around while dropping Toronto (12-13) to 3-7 on its 10-game trip.
He allowed a total of two runs with 26 strikeouts over in his first three starts - all Cleveland victories. Still battling the effects of an illness Tuesday, Bauer did not factor in an 11-5 home loss to Kansas City after giving up three runs over six innings.
The right-hander, who has never faced the Blue Jays, has pitched at least six innings in each of his four starts.
"I think he's getting comfortable out there," reliever Scott Atchison told MLB's official website. "He's got a lot of confidence."
Toronto's Russell Martin raised his average 29 points to .214 on Saturday by going 3 for 5 with a home run and a double in leading the Blue Jays' 14-hit attack. Jose Bautista has four doubles in this series after going 2 for 5 with four RBIs.
Kevin Pillar also has been a bright spot, going 11 for 25 with six extra-base hits and six RBIs in the last six games.
Drew Hutchison will try to help Toronto's overworked bullpen with a deep outing, though he's only worked into the sixth inning twice in five starts. He issued five walks and gave up six runs over four innings in Tuesday's 11-8 win at Boston.
"You expect to go seven, eight, nine (innings) every time you take the ball," he said. "So what's gone on the other four turns through before I get the ball doesn't really have an effect. You're trying to go deep every single night."
Hutchison (2-0, 6.67), however, has surrendered 13 runs and 16 hits over just 8 1-3 innings in his last two road starts. The right-hander is 2-7 with a 7.51 ERA away from Rogers Centre in 13 outings dating to last June.
In his only career start against the Indians last April, he allowed two runs and fanned nine over 5 1-3 innings but did not factor in a 3-2 road win. Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer off him, but he's 3 for 20 in his last six games entering this meeting.
Michael Bourn's status is uncertain after he was scratched Saturday because of a cervical strain. The speedy outfielder appeared to be injured Friday when he slid headfirst into the plate.
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| | Last Updated: 4/18/2024 6:37:50 AM EST. |
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