Not all winning streaks are equal

Comparing record-setting winning streaks is like asking a parent to choose a favorite between identical twins. It puts the parent in a difficult spot, but we’re going to do it anyway.

A 14-game winning streak that started on June 17 — two days before the Cavs won the NBA championship — propelled the Indians to the 2016 Central Division championship and on to the World Series.

The Tribe has won 16 in a row after beating the Orioles, 5-0, on Sept. 8. It is the longest winning streak in franchise history.

In many ways, the current streak is more impressive and not just because it is one game longer.

Before we start crunching those numbers, it is worth pointing out, amazingly, the 14-game and 16-game winning streaks were accomplished without Andrew Miller. Miller was not with the Indians during the streak last year (he was with the Yankees), and he is currently on the disabled list recovering from a knee injury. The good news on that front is Miller progressing toward a return.

“They’re both different in their own right,” said Indians relief pitcher Bryan Shaw before the series opener with the Orioles. “I’d say this one is more impressive because we’ve scored first in just about every game.

Last year was obviously good, but this year a different guy every night is picking us up and doing something. It’s been a lot of fun to watch this one.”

• The Indians are not squeaking out close wins on their current tear. They are pulverizing opponents. They outscored opponents, 109-28, during the streak. Not surprisingly, it is the widest run differential of any 16-game span in franchise history.

• The Indians had to win a doubleheader in New York against the Yankees on Aug. 30 and two days later sweep a doubleheader in Detroit to keep the streak alive. It was the first time they swept back-to-back doubleheaders on the road since sweeping the Washington Senators and Yankees on July 2 and July 4 in 1944.

Manager Terry Francona won’t compare the two — last year is ancient history in his mind — but he says getting to 16 straight the way the Indians have is impressive.

• The Indians went 11-0 on the road against the Yankees, Tigers and White Sox. It is the first time a majorleague team went 11-0 on the road since the Reds in 1957. The 2014 winning streak concluded with eight road wins — three in Detroit, three in Atlanta and two in Toronto. The last gasp was a 2-1, 19-inning victory over the Blue Jays on July 1, 2016. The Indians just had nothing left after that.

The 14-game winning streak last year started with a three-game sweep of the White Sox followed by a three-game sweep of the Rays at Progressive Field.

So which streak was against better competition?

The White Sox were 4040 on July 1 a year ago. Tampa Bay was last in the AL East at 33-46. The Tigers were 42-38 and Atlanta was last in the NL East at 27-53.

The springboard to the current streak started against the AL East-leading Red Sox on Aug. 24 when the Indians pounded Cy Young candidate Chris Sale and continued with a three-game sweep of Kansas City at Progressive Field. The Royals, still in the wild-card hunt at 69-70, were 64-63 when the series began.

The Yankees are 75-64 and currently the leaders for the first wild-card spot in the American League. You would need a periscope to find the Tigers (59-80) and White Sox (54-85) in the AL Central, but the Orioles are 71-69 and two games out of the second wild-card spot currently held by the Twins.

“This streak is more important because it’s happening now,” first baseman/designated hitter Carlos Santana said. “We have players hurt, but we have Jay Bruce and Erik Gonzalez and Gio Urshela and others helping. We have Edwin (Encarnacion). We have experience for the playoffs and the World Series.”