The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Case there for five all-star starters
The Indians have five legitimate candidates for the July 17 All-Star Game in Washington, and not just candidates to be on the American League squad as reserves.
Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley are playing like they deserve to be AL starters.
That won’t happen — for several reasons. There is a chance the Indians could have two, and maybe even three, starters in the game. Last season, they had five all-stars, including one starter. A look at the candidates:
COREY KLUBER » In most years, Kluber would be a slam-dunk choice to start the All-Star game, but this season the competition to grab that honor is remarkable. There’s no shortage of AL starters at the top of their game through nearly three months. Kluber is well on his way to his first 20-win season with an 11-3 mark. His 2.10 ERA is second in the AL, as is his WHIP of 0.806. Kluber is facing a stacked group of elite starters that begins with Houston’s Justin Verlander, whose 1.60 ERA and 0.776 WHIP lead the AL. He’s also 9-2 with 130 strikeouts. Others contenders to start the mid-summer classic include the Yankees’ Luis Severino (11-2, 2.24 ERA, 123 strikeouts), Houston’s Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.59, 138 strikeouts), plus others who could emerge such as Houston’s Charlie Morton and Boston’s Chris Sale.
PREDICTION » Kluber is an absolute lock to make the AL squad, but Astros manager A.J. Hinch will manage the AL squad. If Verlander’s turn allows him to pitch in the All-Star game, and he keeps up his sub2.00 ERA pace, it would not be shocking for him to get the nod over Kluber. This is a two-pitcher All-Star race, and any hiccup by either from now until July 17 could be the difference.
TREVOR BAUER » Bauer has showed signs of brilliance in past seasons, but the consistency he’s exhibited in 2018 has taken the right-hander to another level. After another dominant outing June 23
vs. the Tigers, Bauer is 7-5 with a 2.44 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 107 innings. He’s on pace for 302 Ks and has seven games this season with at least double-digit strikeouts, including five of his last six.
PREDICTION » Hinch could have a difficult decision with Bauer, considering the strength of AL starters. Who gets left out? It’s might be Bauer, but right now this is really tough to call. Also potentially coming into play might be Bauer’s recent comments insinuating possible doctoring of baseballs by Houston pitchers.
JOSE RAMIREZ » Remember who started at third base for the AL in 2017? Yep, it was Ramirez, who got a late push from voters to get the nod. At the All-Star break last season,
Ramirez was hitting .332 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI and 27 doubles. That was in 328 at-bats. In 284 atbats this season, he’s already hit 23 homers with 52 RBI and 20 doubles.
PREDICTION » This isn’t much of a prediction, because unless something bizarre unfolds, Ramirez is set to make his second straight start at third. Updated AllStar voting has Ramirez with almost 900,000 votes, and almost 400,000 more than second-place Miguel Andujar of the Yankees.
FRANCISCO LINDOR » Much like the crop of AL starters, AL shortstop is a loaded position. Lindor is having another outstanding season (.296 batting average, 19 homers, 44 RBI, 24 doubles, 10 stolen bases), but the Orioles’ Manny Machado has
a healthy lead with more nearly 700,000 votes. The Astros’ Carlos Correa (458,367), Lindor (420,674) and the Yankees’ Didi Gregorius (413,135) seem in a fight for second place.
PREDICTION » Correa and Gregorius are big names, but statistically Lindor is having a stronger year than both. After hitting 33 homers last season, Lindor is on pace for 39 this season. It would be shocking if Lindor isn’t an All-Star for the second straight season.
MICHAEL BRANTLEY »
Brantley’s solid start to 2018 is one of the baseball’s best stories this season. Limited to 101 games the past two seasons because of injuries, the Indians still picked up the option on Brantley in the offseason, and it looks like it will pay off for General Manager
Mike Chernoff. Brantley is eighth in the AL in hitting at .316, and has 11 homers and 44 RBI. The good news for Brantley is he’s fourth in voting for AL outfielders. The bad news for Brantley is he will finish no higher than fourth. What an All-Star outfield the AL will display. The Red Sox’s Mookie Betts leads with 1,568,417 votes with the Angels’ Mike Trout (1,323,292) second and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge (1,061,370) third. Brantley has 518,350 votes.
PREDICTION » Brantley is healthy and looks like the elite player he was in 2014 and 2015. Expect his name called when AL reserves are announced.