Relievers part of balancing act

DETROIT — Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona said he still is trying to get relievers Andrew Miller and Cody Allen back to even terms in innings pitched. But until that happens, the Indians will have two closers.

The Indians, though, can afford it. Allen has 16 saves, a 2.78 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 32

innings. Miller has 65 strikeouts in 42 innings, along with two saves.

“Sometimes it depends on how much they’ve pitched, sometimes it depends on who’s hitting, sometimes it’s both,” Francona said before Sunday’s game at Detroit.

In Saturday night’s 4-1 win in the second game of a doubleheader against the Tigers, Allen pitched the eighth inning against the middle of Detroit’s lineup. Miller pitched the ninth for his second save against the bottom of the order.

On Sunday, Allen came out of the pen to record a one-out save in the ninth in an 11-8 victory. The Indians entered the ninth with an 11-2 lead.

“The innings may never even out,” Francona said. “Andrew may have more innings at the end of the year, but it’s about workload. The goal is to always have your best pitchers have the most innings.

“For whatever reason there was a 10-day span where Andrew and Cody got apart in innings pitched (Miller’s innings went up, Allen’s went down). I’d rather keep them pretty close.”

All-Star travel plans

The Indians will play their first home game on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball in eight years when they host Detroit next Sunday. But it’s going to make for some hectic late-night travel for Francona, the coaching staff and the team’s five All-Stars.

After the game, they will catch a charter jet bound for Miami in anticipation of Monday’s All-Star Game festivities.

“We’ll probably get in about 4 a.m.,” Francona said. “As you know, Monday is a busy day with the workouts and Home Run Derby.”