The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Bats can save Tribe bullpen in Game 5
You have to go back to Aug. 7, when the Central Division lead over the fast-charging Tigers shrunk to two games, to find a time when the Indians were in a precarious situation.
The Tribe went 6-2 in the next nine days to build their cushion to six games and never had a lead smaller than 4½ games the rest of the way.
Now the Tribe is being tested again, though precarious is a word too strong to describe the situation. The Indians have a 3-1 lead in the ALCS, but the momentum shifted to Toronto on Oct. 18 when the Blue Jays did everything right to win Game 4, 5-1.
It will be up to Game 5 starting pitcher Ryan Merritt and the bullpen to clinch the series Oct. 19. Merritt pitched only 11 innings for the Tribe in 2016. His longest outing was five innings Sept. 30 when he picked up his first major-league win in a 7-2 victory over the Royals.
Five innings from Merritt is all Manager Terry Francona needs to get to the strength of his bullpen. The Indians never had a lead in Game 4, so Francona did not use Andrew Miller or Cody Allen.
Palms could get sweaty if the Indians do not end the series in Toronto. Game 6 would be at Progressive Field on Oct. 21 with Josh Tomlin starting, and though the Indians beat the Blue Jays twice at home to start the ALCS, and though the Indians tied Texas for the American League best home record of 53-28, both home ALCS victories were hardearned.
They won Game 1, 2-0, on
a two-run homer by Francisco Lindor. Lindor drove in the deciding run in a 2-1 victory a day later.
Marco Estrada will pitch Game 5 for the Blue Jays. The Indians will likely need more than two runs to beat him this time because Merritt, not Corey Kluber, is starting the game.
The Tribe bats were quiet Oct. 18 for the third time in four games. Tyler Naquin and Roberto Perez, each with one, had the Indians’ only hits. Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, Lindor, Mike Napoli and Jose Ramirez were a combined 0-for-18 with five
strikeouts and one walk.
Focus is going to be on the Indians’ bullpen in Game 5 and in Game 6 if the series stretches that far. Oct. 20 is an off day in the ALCS, so if Francona does use Miller, Bryan Shaw and Allen without success Oct. 19, they at least would have a day to recuperate.
Corey Kluber started Game 4 on three days rest. Some of the mistakes he made in Game 1 were repeated. He got ahead of batters only to give up a big hit. He got away with it in Game 1, but not in Game 4. Kluber would be the starter
in Game 7 if it gets that far. Again, he would be on three days rest. He threw 79 pitches in Game 4. The Toronto lead was only 2-1 when Francona replaced him with Dan Otero.
Pressure is going to be on the Indians’ pitchers to win the series as soon as possible.
The Indians’ batters can end the drama if they answer their wakeup call in Game 5.
Schudel can be reached by email at JSchudel@NewsHerald.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jsproinsider.