Homestand big for Cleveland’s chances
A strange week of baseball will lead Cleveland into what is an important homestand involving two divisional rivals and franchise known around the league as the Evil Empire.
Cleveland went 3-4 the past week with series against the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds, but it was the way in which they lost those games that was either an oddity or noteworthy.
There was a no-hitter by White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon, the first time Cleveland had been no-hit since 2011 and the first time a Terry Franconamanaged team didn't record a single hit.
There was a triple play pulled against them by Joey Votto, the first against a Cleveland team since 2000.
There was a benches-clearing incident in Chicago, sparked by Adam Eaton.
It was a compelling, entertaining week of baseball, with Cleveland entering Tuesday's game with an 8-7 record.. And what lies in front of them? Two more games against the rival White Sox, four against the New York Yankees and three against the Minnesota Twins.
This week has about as much weight
as an April homestand can have considering Cleveland's goals to keep pace with, particularly, the Twins and White Sox in the division.
As for the Yankees, the team with the most frustrated fans in baseball after they threw baseballs onto the field last week, the baseball world narrowly missed on what would have been another marquee pitching matchup between Shane Bieber and Gerrit Cole, likely the two favorites for the 2021 AL Cy Young, but the former will pitch on Saturday against Jameson Taillon and the latter will go the night before opposite Triston Mckenzie.
Capacity to increase to 14,000 fans
Progressive Field's capacity for all May home games will be increasing to 40 percent. It'll remain at 30 percent through the rest of April.
That 40 percent capacity represents a maximum of roughly 14,000 fans per game. Cleveland will be going monthby-month this season as the team continues to work with the Ohio Department of Health and Gov. Mike Dewine's office. Likewise, ticket availability is being determined on a month-by-month basis.
In accordance with the Ohio Department of Health's new protocols, Cleveland fans beginning May 7 will be able to be seated in "mixed pods" consisting of multiple groups from separate parties capped at 10 individuals. Tickets are being sold in quantities of two, four or six tickets. Any mixed pod will be socially distanced from other pods.