Lack of pitching depth, DH could spell doom for Indians
The Cleveland Indians have announced their intention to rely on three starters on short rest from Game 4 on in the World Series. They are expected to play first baseman/DH Carlos Santana in left field, where he has all of four innings of major league experience.
Typically being tied 1-1 in the World Series would not be considered desperate times, but these sure seem like desperate measures.
It’s understandable why they’re taking them. With the series moving to Wrigley Field for the next three games, the Indians’ disadvantage goes beyond having to play in a foreign ballpark in a frenzied environment.
First and foremost, the Chicago Cubs’ edge in rotation depth, magnified by the late-season injuries suffered by Cleveland right-handers Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, figures to really manifest itself in the upcoming games.
National League ERA leader Kyle Hendricks and veteran John Lackey will be taking the ball the next two games for Chicago, which led the majors in starters’ ERA. The Cubs have so much starting depth, they left 15-game winner Jason Hammel off the postseason roster.
Cleveland will counter Friday with Josh Tomlin, who had a 4.40 ERA during the season, then bring back staff ace Corey Kluber on three days’ rest Saturday. Trevor Bauer and Tomlin, in a possible Game 6, would follow on the same limited rest.
“You might not feel as good going out there and warming up, but once you get between the lines, that adrenaline kind of takes over,” said Tomlin, who threw a career-high 174 innings this season. “I think if you were to ask any of us right now, we’d pitch every single day if we had to.”
That’s an admirable attitude, but there’s a history of diminishing returns when using pitchers on short rest. Since the wild card was implemented in 1995, postseason starters going on three days’ rest or less coming into this October were 35-40 with a 4.35 ERA.
And usually a club’s ace would be the only one asked to take on that duty. The Indians plan to attempt the gambit with Kluber — who has been lights-out with a 0.74 ERA in four postseason outings — but also with two other pitchers who normally would rank as their fourth and fifth starters.
Sunday’s scheduled matchup of Cubs ace Jon Lester against inconsistent Bauer, who failed to complete four innings in Wednesday’s 5-1 loss, looks particularly one-sided.
Tomlin will be fully rested when he opposes Hendricks in Game 3, and the seven-year veteran is coming off his best stretch of the season. The finesse right-hander, who has been relying more on his curveball of late, has a 2.53 ERA in two postseason appearances after registering a 1.75 mark in his four September starts.
He endured a brutal August, though, going 1-5 with an 11.48 ERA and briefly getting banished to the bullpen.
“When you get challenged, like tomorrow’s going to be an incredible atmosphere, it feels good to send him to the mound,” said Indians manager Terry Francona, who doesn’t have many options. “He’s going to compete, and he makes the opposing team beat him. Doesn’t walk people. You can’t run on him. And sometimes the opposing team beats him, but he’s not going to beat himself.”
Playing at an NL park, the DH won’t be available. That will force the Cubs to keep Kyle Schwarber and his potent bat on the bench, a significant loss considering his impact in Games 1 and 2.
The Indians might take a big hit as well if they can’t find a spot for Santana, who tied for the team lead in home runs (34) with fellow first baseman/DH Mike Napoli and ranked second with 87 RBI.
Santana has been taking fly balls in left field and is more than willing to give it a go, even if he would be playing in front of an unpadded outfield wall, with fading ivy being the only protection from the brick.
“I’m open to it, because I like to play the game and I think the team needs my bat,” said the switch-hitter, who had a .865 onbase-plus-slugging percentage during the season. “I think I’ve shown I can do it. I’ve had good practices there. The only thing is I have a little problem on the right side of my (calf ), and that might make them think twice.”
Cleveland also will need to brace for an environment unlike any it has played in before, fueled by the Cubs’ 108-year wait for a championship. The Indians have won three of their four playoff games away from Progressive Field, but the challenge increases in magnitude this weekend.
The Cubs had the best home record in the majors at 57-24, setting a franchise high for victories at their venerable ballpark.
“I don’t think there’s going to be a ton of people cheering for us,” Francona said, drawing chuckles. “It is going to be us against the world tomorrow, but us is pretty good. We have a good feeling.”
It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.