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CLEVELAND ( SALAZAR )
TAMPA BAY ( RAMIREZ ) |
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| 965 | CLEVELAND | -105 | Ov 7,-120 | -115 | Ov 7,+100 | | 966 | TAMPA BAY | -105 | Un 7,+100 | +105 | Un 7,-120 |
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| All Games | 34-41 | -16.4 | 34-39 | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.326 | 0.390 | 0.716 | 4.4 | 0.252 | 0.311 | 0.408 | 0.719 | | Road Games | 19-18 | +0.3 | 12-23 | 3.8 | 0.247 | 0.312 | 0.387 | 0.699 | 3.5 | 0.231 | 0.293 | 0.377 | 0.670 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 11-19 | -10.6 | 13-17 | 3.7 | 0.246 | 0.310 | 0.379 | 0.689 | 4.5 | 0.252 | 0.317 | 0.407 | 0.725 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -3.6 | 4-3 | 3.7 | 0.282 | 0.333 | 0.429 | 0.762 | 4.9 | 0.240 | 0.293 | 0.453 | 0.747 | | Dome Games | 1-0 | +1.1 | 1-0 | 7.0 | 0.342 | 0.405 | 0.500 | 0.905 | 1.0 | 0.103 | 0.103 | 0.241 | 0.345 | | Night Games | 20-25 | -10.4 | 18-26 | 3.8 | 0.246 | 0.314 | 0.386 | 0.700 | 4.2 | 0.247 | 0.304 | 0.403 | 0.707 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.326 | 75 | 2523 | 638 | 142 | 9 | 62 | 0.390 | 286 | 272 | 519 | 37 | 566 | 65 | 43 | 70 | 41 | | Road Games | 3.8 | 0.247 | 0.312 | 37 | 1260 | 311 | 58 | 5 | 36 | 0.387 | 135 | 120 | 248 | 23 | 265 | 32 | 20 | 30 | 22 | | Lefty Starters | 3.7 | 0.246 | 0.310 | 30 | 1011 | 249 | 51 | 1 | 27 | 0.379 | 108 | 94 | 201 | 10 | 213 | 34 | 14 | 31 | 18 |
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| All Games | 3.24 | 1.302 | 222 | 104 | 80 | 204 | 24 | 85 | 229 | 6-9 | 16 | 5 | 76.2% | | Road Games | 3.45 | 1.308 | 88.7 | 34 | 34 | 77 | 9 | 39 | 102 | 3-4 | 10 | 1 | 90.9% |
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| All Games | 42-36 | +4.8 | 31-43 | 3.6 | 0.245 | 0.301 | 0.386 | 0.687 | 3.5 | 0.233 | 0.295 | 0.363 | 0.658 | | Home Games | 20-22 | -5.9 | 21-18 | 3.6 | 0.250 | 0.307 | 0.388 | 0.696 | 4.1 | 0.242 | 0.303 | 0.383 | 0.686 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 27-28 | -1.9 | 24-30 | 3.5 | 0.242 | 0.296 | 0.374 | 0.670 | 3.7 | 0.230 | 0.297 | 0.367 | 0.664 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -4.5 | 3-3 | 2.9 | 0.247 | 0.296 | 0.391 | 0.687 | 4.1 | 0.224 | 0.278 | 0.396 | 0.673 | | Dome Games | 21-23 | -6.2 | 21-20 | 3.5 | 0.245 | 0.302 | 0.380 | 0.681 | 4.0 | 0.240 | 0.300 | 0.377 | 0.678 | | Night Games | 31-25 | +6.4 | 22-30 | 3.8 | 0.243 | 0.303 | 0.385 | 0.688 | 3.7 | 0.242 | 0.304 | 0.374 | 0.678 |
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| All Games | 3.6 | 0.245 | 0.301 | 78 | 2600 | 636 | 120 | 17 | 71 | 0.386 | 270 | 210 | 624 | 57 | 514 | 64 | 37 | 48 | 46 | | Home Games | 3.6 | 0.250 | 0.307 | 42 | 1367 | 342 | 62 | 8 | 37 | 0.388 | 145 | 113 | 344 | 34 | 275 | 32 | 22 | 26 | 32 | | Righty Starters | 3.5 | 0.242 | 0.296 | 55 | 1851 | 448 | 89 | 13 | 43 | 0.374 | 179 | 142 | 446 | 32 | 359 | 43 | 26 | 34 | 36 |
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| All Games | 3.65 | 1.292 | 264 | 112 | 107 | 238 | 33 | 103 | 254 | 14-14 | 34 | 7 | 82.9% | | Home Games | 4.29 | 1.293 | 144.7 | 72 | 69 | 137 | 22 | 50 | 152 | 8-7 | 16 | 4 | 80% |
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| 6/16/2015 | BAUER(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | 6-0 | W | 130 | 6.5 un | U | 9 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | | 6/17/2015 | MARCUM(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | WADA(L) | 0-17 | L | -130 | 8 un | O | 4 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 5 | 0 | | 6/18/2015 | SALAZAR(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | 4-3 | W | -145 | 7.5 ov | U | 8 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 6/19/2015 | CARRASCO(R) | TAMPA BAY | KARNS(R) | 1-4 | L | -165 | 7 un | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 1 | | 6/20/2015 | KLUBER(R) | TAMPA BAY | RAMIREZ(L) | 1-4 | L | -180 | 7 ov | U | 6 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | | 6/21/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | TAMPA BAY | COLOME(R) | 1-0 | W | -115 | 8 ov | U | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 | | 6/22/2015 | BAUER(R) | DETROIT | RYAN(L) | 5-8 | L | -140 | 9 un | O | 9 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 1 | | 6/23/2015 | SALAZAR(R) | DETROIT | PRICE(L) | 3-7 | L | -115 | 7 un | O | 12 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | | 6/24/2015 | CARRASCO(R) | DETROIT | FARMER(R) | 8-2 | W | -200 | 8 un | O | 13 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | | 6/26/2015 | KLUBER(R) | @ BALTIMORE | CHEN(L) | 3-4 | L | -110 | 7.5 un | U | 10 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | | 6/28/2015 | BAUER(R) | @ BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | 0-4 | L | 120 | 8.5 un | U | 4 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | | 6/28/2015 | MURATA(R) | @ BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | 0-8 | L | 125 | 9 un | U | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 6/29/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | KARNS(R) | 7-1 | W | 110 | 7 un | O | 13 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | | 6/30/2015 | SALAZAR(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | RAMIREZ(L) | | | 7/1/2015 | CARRASCO(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | COLOME(R) | | | 7/2/2015 | KLUBER(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | MOORE(L) | | | 7/3/2015 | BAUER(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 7/4/2015 | ANDERSON(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | | | 7/5/2015 | SALAZAR(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | | | 7/6/2015 | | HOUSTON | | | | 7/7/2015 | | HOUSTON | | |
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| 6/16/2015 | COLOME(R) | WASHINGTON | ROARK(R) | 4-16 | L | -125 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 6 | 1 | 23 | 10 | 0 | | 6/17/2015 | GELTZ(R) | @ WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | 5-0 | W | 140 | 7.5 un | U | 12 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | | 6/18/2015 | ARCHER(R) | @ WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | 5-3 | W | -115 | 7 un | O | 12 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 3 | | 6/19/2015 | KARNS(R) | @ CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | 4-1 | W | 155 | 7 un | U | 11 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 6/20/2015 | RAMIREZ(L) | @ CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 4-1 | W | 170 | 7 ov | U | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 1 | | 6/21/2015 | COLOME(R) | @ CLEVELAND | ANDERSON(R) | 0-1 | L | 105 | 8 ov | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | | 6/22/2015 | ANDRIESE(R) | TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | 5-8 | L | -125 | 7 ov | O | 15 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 0 | | 6/23/2015 | ARCHER(R) | TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | 4-3 | W | -160 | 7 un | P | 9 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | | 6/24/2015 | KARNS(R) | TORONTO | ESTRADA(R) | 0-1 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | U | 4 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 | | 6/26/2015 | COLOME(R) | BOSTON | PORCELLO(R) | 3-4 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | U | 12 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 6/27/2015 | ANDRIESE(R) | BOSTON | MILEY(L) | 4-1 | W | -110 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | | 6/28/2015 | ARCHER(R) | BOSTON | MASTERSON(R) | 3-5 | L | -175 | 6.5 ov | O | 10 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 1 | | 6/29/2015 | KARNS(R) | CLEVELAND | ANDERSON(R) | 1-7 | L | -120 | 7 un | O | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 1 | | 6/30/2015 | RAMIREZ(L) | CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | | | 7/1/2015 | COLOME(R) | CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | | | 7/2/2015 | MOORE(L) | CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | | | 7/3/2015 | ARCHER(R) | @ NY YANKEES | EOVALDI(R) | | | 7/4/2015 | KARNS(R) | @ NY YANKEES | TANAKA(R) | | | 7/5/2015 | RAMIREZ(L) | @ NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | | | 7/6/2015 | | @ KANSAS CITY | | | | 7/7/2015 | | @ KANSAS CITY | | |
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| |  | 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. | | TAMPA BAY: ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - A year after being a trendy preseason pick to contend for the World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays are back in a familiar role as underdogs.
''That's good. ... We like that,'' three-time All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria said, noting the team has a history of flourishing most when little is expected from outside the organization.
''I just think it's going to be a really good year,'' the club's career home run and RBIs leader said. ''We've got a young team, a bunch of guys eager to learn and get out there and win games. I'm really looking forward to that.''
Former manager Joe Maddon - and his often unconventional way of doing things - is gone.
So is Andrew Friedman, the young executive who was architect of the teams that made the playoffs four of the past seven seasons.
The roster has a much different look, too, with 10 key players from a year ago either traded or released this winter.
''The end result is a club that we have optimism about, a club that we're excited about, that we think can compete for a playoff spot. And, that's what we want,'' team president of baseball operations Matt Silverman said.
''Every year, we want to come into camp believing our team can play meaningful games in September and have a chance to go to the playoffs, and even beyond,'' Silverman added. ''We have that - and at the same time, we've reloaded our minor league system, added some players who impact us this year, might impact us in the future, and we're better off because of that.''
Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, catcher Rene Rivera, outfielder Steven Souza Jr., and pitchers Kevin Jepsen, Ernesto Frieri and Burch Smith are offseason acquisitions who could figure in the team's success - or failure.
Smith and two other young starters - Matt Andriese and Nathan Karns - figure to begin the season in the rotation because of injuries to Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly, and Matt Moore.
The hope is the rest of the projected rotation, Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi, can help the Rays stay afloat until they can get back to full strength.
''If you've got starting pitching, you've got a leg up on going into the season,'' rookie manager Kevin Cash said. ''We're very fortunate with the pitchers we have - starters and relievers.''
Cobb, sidelined by a forearm strain during spring training, believes the team will thrive as underdogs.
''We're not going to get bullied. A lot of people are picking us at the bottom, and we're going to embrace that and have each other's backs,'' the right-hander said.
''Any time anybody calls you out in your profession and makes you feel like you're not as good as you know you are, there's always something to prove,'' Cobb said. ''I don't feel like we need to have extra motivation. It's just going to be that much sweeter when we go out there and perform well.''
A look at the keys to the Rays' season:
WHO WILL LEAD?: Pitching and defense were staples during six consecutive winning seasons that produced four playoff berths and one trip to the World Series. The Rays slipped to 77-85 a year ago, their first losing record since 2007. They're banking on Cash, who has no previous managerial experience, being the right fit to restore winning ways. At 37, he's the youngest current manager or head coach in the four major professional sports.
BETTER LONGO: Longoria played in every game in 2014 for the first time in his career, however he hit a disappointing .253 with 22 homers and 91 RBIs. He's moving into the cleanup spot after batting third most of his career, and knows he has to be more consistent if the Rays - last in the AL in runs scored a year ago - are going to have a chance to be better offensively.
BEHIND THE PLATE: Catcher Ryan Hanigan was traded and backup Jose Molina was released this winter. The three-team deal that sent Wil Myers to San Diego and brought Souza to Tampa Bay from Washington, also landed Rivera from the Padres.
The Rays believe he's an upgrade defensively, as well as offensively.
Rivera posted career highs with a .252 batting average, 11 homers and 44 RBI's in 103 games last season. Still, the 31-year-old catcher stresses his job is to provide solid direction behind the plate.
''I want to help my pitching staff first. I think that's what the game is all about. If you pitch well, you're going to win some games,'' Rivera said. ''If I get a hit here, a hit there and help us win some games, that's even better.'' |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (CLEVELAND-TAMPA BAY) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Indians-Rays Preview* ======================
By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer
Cleveland (33-41) at Tampa Bay (42-35), 7:10 p.m. EDT
A groin injury cut Erasmo Ramirez's last start short, but he'll now get a second chance to beat the Cleveland Indians.
Ramirez will try to re-establish his success in the rotation in order to help the Tampa Bay Rays to their third win in nine games Tuesday night against the visiting Indians.
Ramirez (6-2, 4.23 ERA) has been impressive since becoming a full-time starter last month, going 6-1 with a 2.34 ERA in eight games. The right-hander has a 1.03 ERA while winning all four decisions over his last five starts.
He appeared to be on his way to a fifth straight victory June 20, but the groin issue forced him out after three-plus scoreless innings of a 4-1 win at Cleveland.
"If I continue throwing and (it) maybe gets worse, that means maybe I go on the DL instead of just (being out) a couple of days," Ramirez told MLB's official website. "That was the reason we just stopped throwing."
His last turn in the rotation was skipped, and Tampa Bay (42-36) has dropped six of eight games after winning 14 of 18.
The Rays were nearly on the receiving end of a perfect game Monday, but Grady Sizemore homered off rookie Cody Anderson in the seventh inning of a 7-1 loss to the Indians (34-41) to open this four-game set.
Tampa Bay may appreciate Ramirez going deep into this outing since the bullpen has a 4.97 ERA during this eight-game slump, and the relievers were responsible for five runs in three innings Monday.
He'll have to contend with a Cleveland club that pounded out 13 hits - including one homer and three doubles in the opener - hours after manager Terry Francona held a meeting with his underachieving club to "remind guys of what we stand for."
Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes had three hits and one RBI each on Monday, and they're a combined 4 for 11 (.364) against Ramirez.
Brantley is 9 for 21 in five games, while Kipnis is 9 for 14 with three doubles in four meetings with Tampa Bay. The second baseman's .348 average tied him with Texas' Prince Fielder for second in the AL behind Miguel Cabrera (.350).
Danny Salazar (6-3, 4.06) faces Tampa Bay for the first time and is out to regroup after coming undone in Tuesday's 7-3 loss to Detroit. He allowed one run through four innings, but he was pulled with one out in the fifth after his throwing error to home with the bases loaded led to a six-run inning.
"That kind of (throws) you off a little bit," Salazar said. "You know you could have got that play there and get out of the inning without trouble."
The right-hander has failed to complete the fifth in each of his last two starts, giving up 10 runs and 12 hits in nine innings. He was 2-1 with a 2.90 ERA over his five previous outings.
Salazar's next win will give him a single-season career high.
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| | Last Updated: 4/20/2024 7:04:09 AM EST. |
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