Written by Jonathan Knight

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BEATING THE BEST: The Indians’ record against teams now at or above .500 is 20-11, while they’re only 13-9 against teams currently under .500. The 22 games against teams with losing records is the most of any team in the AL Central.

A GOOD OMEN: In five of the last six seasons, whoever was in first place in the AL Central on June 1 wound up winning the division.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against Tampa Bay dropped to 69-42, while their mark against Toronto jumped to 185-183.

REALITY CHECK: In games against Boston, Tampa Bay, and Los Angeles - all certain playoff contenders - the Indians are 8-10, with all 10 losses coming in the last 15 games.

THE OLD FAUSTO: In six starts in the month of May, Fausto Carmona went 1-3 with an ERA of 6.61. The Indians were 2-4 in games he started in May and are 5-7 in games he’s started for the season. He’s allowed at least four earned runs in his last four starts (a key milestone, as you’re about to discover), including getting bombed for eight and seven earned

runs in two of his last three.

MEDIOCRE PLAY IN MAY: After posting an 18-8 mark in April, the Indians dropped to 14-12 in the month of May, worsened by five losses in their last seven games of the month. And yet over the course of May, the Tribe increased its divisional lead by a half-game.

GOOSE-EGGS: The Indians have now been shut out four times this season and held to three runs or less a total of 22 times - 42% of their games. Their record in these games is 6-16. Thus, their record when they score at least four runs is 27-4.

WHEN TO TURN IT OFF: While the Indians have remained competitive when they’ve allowed four runs or more in a game (11-15), the magic number for their undoing is when they allow five runs - they’re 3-12 in these games. (Ironically, Wednesday’s victory over the Blue Jays was one of these three victories.)

WINNING THE HARD WAY: The Toronto series marked the first time this season the Indians lost the first game of a three-game series and then came back to win the next two.

WINNING THE EASY WAY: The nine runs the Indians allowed on Wednesday night were the most they’d permitted in a victory all season. The previous high was five. It was the most runs the Tribe had permitted in a triumph since May 29 of last season when it beat the Yankees, 13-11.

SLUMPING: After finishing off the sweep of the Reds with a 12-run explosion on May 22, over their next seven games the Indians scored a total of 15 runs while allowing 46.

BUT HE GOT THE WIN: The six runs Josh Tomlin allowed Wednesday night marked the most he’d allowed in a game all season and matched the most he’d permitted in his brief career.

MORE MAY MISERIES: In the month of May, the Indians allowed 4.5 runs per game after permitting only 3.7 per contest in April. The offense was down even more, dropping from 5.4 runs per game in April to 4.2 in May.

LOOKING UP NORTH OF THE BORDER: The Indians have fared well in Toronto in recent years, posting a record of 10-4 there since 2008.

PECULIAR: Though Justin Masterson posted an ERA of 3.79 in six starts in the month of May, he didn’t win a game.

COUNTING ON THE KIDS: The Indians are 15-7 this year in games started by either Josh Tomlin or Justin Masterson.

TURBULENCE FOR TOMLIN: In his last two starts, Josh Tomlin pitched a total of 12 innings, but permitted 18 hits and allowed 10 earned runs for an ERA of 7.50.

LIGHTING UP THE BOARD: The Indians have now scored 10 runs or more five times this season after hitting double digits only six times in the entire 2010 campaign.

PROGRESS REPORT: The Indians are averaging 4.9 runs per game and allowing 4.2. Their team batting average is .264 and team ERA is 3.83.

A YEAR AGO: After 53 games in 2010, the Indians stood at 20-33, last place in the AL Central, 11 games back of the first-place Twins.

 

TAMPA BAY SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Rays outscored the Indians, 15-7 - three of the Indians’ runs and two of the Rays’ runs were unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 19 for 95 (.200), 7 walks

Tampa Bay 31 for 103 (.301), 9 walks

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 2 for 13 (.154), 16 left on base

Tampa Bay 8 for 27 (.296), 22 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 5 (1 HR)

Tampa Bay 9 (4 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 25 IP, 31 H, 9 BB, 15 SO, 13 ER, 4.68 ERA

Tampa Bay 27 IP, 19 H, 7 BB, 30 SO, 4 ER, 1.33 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 1-2; 17 IP, 25 H, 5 BB, 8 SO, 12 ER, 6.35 ERA

Tampa Bay 2-1; 21 IP, 14 H, 7 BB, 26 SO, 3 ER, 1.29 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 1 save; 9 IP, 6 H, 4 BB, 7 SO, 1 ER, 1.00 ERA

Tampa Bay 6 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 SO, 1 ER, 1.50 ERA

 

TORONTO SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Blue Jays outscored the Indians, 23-20 - five of Toronto’s runs and two of the Indians’ runs were unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 38 for 115 (.330), 11 walks

Toronto 34 for 111 (.306), 9 walks

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 9 for 40 (.225), 26 left on base

Toronto 13 for 31 (.419), 22 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 15 (2 HR)

Toronto 11 (3 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 26 IP, 34 H, 9 BB, 21 SO, 18 ER, 6.23 ERA

Toronto 27 IP, 38 H, 11 BB, 23 SO, 18 ER, 6.00 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 2-1; 16.2 IP, 23 H, 6 BB, 13 SO, 14 ER, 7.56 ERA

Toronto 1-2; 14.2 IP, 20 H, 9 BB, 14 SO, 11 ER, 6.75 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 9.1 IP, 11 H, 3 BB, 8 SO, 4 ER, 3.86 ERA

Toronto 12.1 IP, 18 H, 2 BB, 9 SO, 7 ER, 5.11 ERA

 

UP NEXT:

Texas Rangers [30-26]

(Thursday 7:05 p.m.; Friday 7:05 p.m.; Saturday 7:05 p.m., Sunday, 1:05 p.m.)

Probable Starters:

Carrasco (4-2, 4.91 ERA); Masterson (5-3, 3.07 ERA); Carmona (3-6, 5.31 ERA); Talbot 2-1, 4.50)

Last year: Rangers won series, 4-2

 

Minnesota Twins [17-37]

(Monday 7:05 p.m.; Tuesday 7:05 p.m.; Wednesday 12:05 p.m.)

Probable Starters:

Tomlin (7-2, 3.27 ERA); Carrasco; Masterson

Last year: Twins won series, 12-6

This year: Twins lead series, 2-0