The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Starting pitchers
• Shane Bieber RHP: Bieber, the 2019 All-Star Game MVP, has the honor of being the Indians’ opening day pitcher. He was 15-8 last year in his first full season with the Indians. Bieber relies more on command than trying to overpower hitters. He gave up 31 home runs last year, tied for 11thmost in the majors.
• Mike Clevinger RHP: Clevinger was 13-4 last season despite missing more than two months with a back injury. His fastball reaches 95 mph and his slider has excellent movement. He struck out 169 batters in 126 innings last season.
• Carlos Carrasco RHP: Carrasco was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia on June 2 last year and battled back to pitch in relief in September. He mixes in a curveball and changeup with a 93 mph fastball. He won 18 games in 20
17 and 17 in 2018 — pretty good for a third pitcher. • Aaron Civale RHP: Civale, 25, made 10 starts last year and finished 3-4 with a 2.34 ERA. He put in a solid spring training 2.0 to claim the fourth spot in the rotation. He gets batters to swing and miss at his cutter.
• Zach Plesac RHP: Plesac started 2019 in Akron and ended up making 21 starts with the Indians, finishing 8-6. He has good velocity on his fastball and keeps hitters off-balance with his slider and changeup.
• Adam Plutko RHP: Plutko could end up as the fifth starter or work out of the bullpen. He is valuable as insurance if one of the starters is injured. He walked 26 of the 462 batters he faced last year, third-fewest in the majors among pitchers with at least 20 starts. He was 7-5 with 20 starts.
Roberto Perez walks back to the dugout during the Indians’ victory over the Pirates in an exhibition game July 20 at Progressive Field. should not be a problem in a 60-game season. Hand, 30, saved a career-best 34 games last season. He said he has been working on his curveball in the buildup to the regular season. • Adam Cimber RHP: Cimber’s funky submarine delivery is tough on righthanded hitters. But lefties hit .296 off him last year. Baseball’s new rule making pitchers face a minimum of three batters could test Cimber. He had 19 holds last year. • Nick Wittgren RHP: Wittgren at one time was in line to become the Miami Marlins’ closer. He doesn’t blow hitters away with his fastball, but has good location with his pitches. He had 12 holds last season. • James Karinchak RHP: Karinchak could end up as the setup man to get to Hand. He uses his fastball and curve to send batters back to the bench after striking them out. He struck out an average of 22 batters per nine innings in the minors in 2019. He posted eight strikeouts in 5 1⁄3 innings with the Indians. • Oliver Perez LHP: Perez turns 39 on Aug. 15. The lefty reliever led the Indians with 22 holds last year. Right-handed batters hit 12 doubles off him in 70 at-bats last year. By comparison, left-handed hitters doubled only twice in 87 at-bats.
• Dominic Leone RHP:
• Cam Hill RHP: Hill, 26, will be making his majorleague debut the first time he steps on the mound with the Indians. He was selected by the Tribe in the 17th round of the 2014 draft. The curveball is his best pitch.
• Phil Maton RHP: Maton pitched 12 1⁄3 innings over eight games with the Indians last season and posted a 2.92 ERA. He’s a fastball pitcher and not afraid to challenge hitters with pitches above the belt.
• Hunter Wood RHP: Wood turns 27 on Aug. 12. He settled into the bullpen quickly last year after being acquired from Tampa Bay near the trade deadline. He keeps his fastball low and has late movement on his cutter. He allowed 20 hits in 16 1⁄3 innings with the Indians last year.
Catchers
• Roberto Perez: The Indians pitchers love working with Perez. He was named Major League Defensive Player of the Year by Wilson in 2019. His 30 defensive runs saved let all catchers. On top of that, he belted 24 home runs and drove in 63. Similar dominance in a 60game season would boost the Indians’ playoff chances enormously.
• Sandy Leon: Leon, 31, was acquired in a trade with the Red Sox for Adenys Bautista. He will catch when Perez needs a day off. He hit .192 and started 50
Jose Ramirez awaits a pitch during the Indians’ victory over the Pirates in an exhibition game July 20 at Progressive Field. games for Boston in 2019.
He caught four of the eight shutouts posted by Red Sox pitchers.
Infielders
• Carlos Santana 1B/DH: The switch-hitter will bat fourth on most days unless plans change. Santana, 34, had career highs in home runs (34), RBI (93), hits (161) and runs scored (110) last season. The Indians need his hot bat to overtake the Twins in the AL Central. • Cesar Hernandez 2B: Hernandez is replacing Jason Kipnis as the Indians’ second baseman. He is batting leadoff. He had 171 hits and walked 45 times in 161 games with the Phillies last year. He signed a one-year contract with the Indians as a free agent in December.
• Francisco Lindor SS: Lindor is likely in his last season with the Indians, because he will be a free agent after the 2021 season. The All-Star shortstop is hitting third in the lineup. He has power, speed, a flashy glove, poise, leadership — everything a team that can afford him desires.
• Jose Ramirez 3B: Ramirez had a .214 batting average on June 30 last season. He hit .320 from July 1 to Aug. 24, homering 15 times and driving in 45 runs in 45 games. A broken hand sidelined him until Sept. 24. He was 3-for-9 with three homers and eight RBI in three September games. He will bat second.
• Mike Freeman INF: Freeman’s versatility gives him an edge for holding down a job as a utility player. He started games at second base (26), shortstop (eight), third (10) and left field (three) in 2019. He’s a good teammate and satisfied with his role. Freeman, 32, homered four times and drove in 24 runs last year. Freeman bats left-handed.
• Christian Arroyo INF:
• Tyler Naquin: The delay to the start of the season gave Naquin added time to recover from a knee injury suffered Aug. 30 last season. He will play right field on most days. Naquin bats left-handed. Last year he showed he could hit right-handed pitching (.289) and left-handed pitching (.286) equally well. • Jordan Luplow: Luplow has battled a back injury this spring, but his success against left-handed pitching (.320 in 128 at bats) last year makes him a valuable player coming off the bench. • Bradley Zimmer: Zimmer has done very little for the last two years because of a shoulder injury. But he covers a lot of ground in center field and the Indians still like his potential. Zimmer has speed on the bases and could be the man starting the Indians’ half of the 10th inning on second base in a tie game. Starting extra innings with a runner on second is a new rule this season.
• Domingo Santana: