Clevinger’s return a resounding success

One way or another, Mike Clevinger is going to be an important player in the Indians chase for a spot in the 2020 World Series.

Tribe president Chris Antonetti before the Aug. 31 trade deadline could trade Clevinger for a hitter the Indians desperately need. If they decide to hold onto the 29-year-old righthander, it means not only that he has been forgiven for breaking team rules and MLB COVID-19 protocols on Aug. 8 in Chicago. It also means the Tribe will count on him to pitch every fifth day over the last month of the regular season and into the playoffs.

Clevinger started against the Twins on Aug. 26 at Progressive Field in the rubber match of the three-game series with their rival in the A.L. Central. It was his first start since Aug. 5. He missed his last three scheduled turns — he was at the alternate site in Eastlake from Aug. 14-24 — because of what happened in Chicago.

Clevinger had the daunting task of trying to beat the Twins and trying to win back the trust of his teammates. Francisco Lindor, after hitting the game-winning home run Aug. 25 to beat the Twins, 4-2, said “It’s time to turn the page,” on what Clevinger and Zach Plesac (still at the alternate site) did. It would be much easier to turn that page if Clevinger continues to pitch as well as he did against Minnesota.

The night did not start well for Clevinger. After falling behind 2-0 on leadoff hitter Max Keppler, Clevinger grooved a fastball that Keppler hammered into the right field seats for a 1-0 Twins lead. He gave up two more hits but no more runs before the Indians batted for the first time.

Clevinger benefitted from early base-running blunders by the Twins. Eddie Resario was thrown out trying to run from second to third on a single by Marwin Gonzalez with two outs in the first inning. Lamonte Wade was picked off at first base to end the second inning after the Twins took a 2-0 lead.

Clevinger got better as he settled in. He did not allow a hit in the third inning. He got the Twins to swing at fastballs high in the strike zone that consistently hit 95 MPH. He left with a 3-2 lead after throwing 86 pitches through six innings. He allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked only one.

Acting manager Sandy Alomar Jr. and pitching coach Carl Willis, speaking on Zoom before the game, made it sound as though Clevinger will be around

after the trade deadline.

“We all make mistakes,” Willis said. “Everyone knows that. We all need to be accountable.

“Mike has become a huge part of this rotation the past few years. I think we’ll probably see Zach grow into that as well. In terms of what they bring to the field and mound that’s something to get excited about, but we all have to take care of each other.”

Alomar said Clevinger apologized in a team meeting Aug. 25.

“At the end of the day he has to go out there and just compete and be himself,” Alomar said.

Clevinger was 1-1 in his

three starts before being demoted. He gave up five walks in each of his two starts prior to facing the Twins, so allowing only one free pass in his return is significant.

Clevinger suffered a knee injury in spring training and needed surgery to repair it. The knee bothered Clevinger in his first three starts, but Willis in the Aug. 26 Zoom said Clevinger’s problem with the knee was more mental than physical. Clevinger was not landing on his right foot properly as he threw a pitch Willis said, and that affected Clevinger’s delivery.

“We took his focus away

from the landing and more to maintaining his posture to drive from the back side into the landing,” Willis said. “His stuff (at the alternate site) was Clevinger-like is the best phrase I can use. It’s just a matter of him trusting that everything (with the knee) is going to be stable.”

There is irony in Willis saying Clevinger has to “trust” his own knee on the same night Clevinger began earning back the trust of his teammates.