Written by Jonathan Knight

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SEPTEMBER STRUGGLES: The Tribe is now 4-10 in the month of September and has yet to win two straight games since the calendar turned.

LIGHTING US UP: The Indians have allowed their opponent to score seven runs or more in 10 of their last 14 games. And not surprisingly, they’ve lost all 10.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against the White Sox moved to 991-1,033. Their mark against the Rangers dropped to 189-234.

QUIETLY MAKING HIS CASE: In his three starts since rejoining the Indians in late August, Jeanmar Gomez is 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA.

EXTRAS: The Indians’ record in extra-inning games now stands at 6-7 - they’ve lost six of their last nine that have gone to bonus frames.

FREE PASSES: The Indians allowed a startling 21 walks in the Chicago series, an average of more than five per game - bottoming out on Saturday when they walked 11. This is contrary to the pitching staff’s MO, as it’s third-to-last in the American League in walks allowed, giving up just 415 free passes all season - an average of 2.8 per game.

MASTERING MASTERSON: The six earned runs Justin Masterson allowed on Tuesday night in Texas matched the most he’d given up in a start all season. He also gave up six in a loss at Tampa Bay on May 29.

MAFIA MASHED: The normally stable Indians’ bullpen floundered in Chicago, posting an 8.48 ERA for the series, allowing 12 hits and 12 walks in 11.2 innings. By contrast, the White Sox bullpen walked only five and struck out a whopping 22 in 14.2 innings, winning two games.

SEVEN DOWN: Now with seven losses, Chris Perez has collected more defeats in a season than any Cleveland closer since Danys Baez lost nine in 2003.

SPEAKING OF LOSSES: With the defeat on Thursday night, Fausto Carmona now has 15 for the season, a career-high. It’s the most losses for any Indian pitcher since Jake Westbrook lost 15 in 2005.

A DIFFERENT MINDSET: Chris Perez’s ERA in non-save situations is 4.15. His ERA in save situations is 2.73.

WHIFFLE BALL: Indians’ batters are second in the American League in strikeouts with 1,162 (an average of nearly eight per game), reflected by the Chicago series when they struck out 41 times in four games. Ironically, Indians’ pitchers are second-to-last in the American League in strikeouts with 927 (an average of just over six per game).

BREAKING BUEHRLE: After losing the last five games and seven of the last eight Mark Buehrle had started against them, the Indians have now defeated Buehrle the last two times they’ve faced him. For the season, Buehrle has a 3.58 ERA overall but a 7.11 ERA in three games against Cleveland.

NO SUPPORT: The Indians have scored two runs or less in seven of David Huff’s eight starts this season.

RED-HOT RANGERS: The Rangers have simply owned the Indians this season, winning nine of their 10 meetings, while outscoring them 68-32. As a team, Texas hit .290 against the Indians in 2011 - compared to its .280 overall season batting average, best in the American League.

PROGRESS REPORT: The Indians are averaging 4.20 runs per game and allowing 4.54. Their team batting average is .247 (10th in the AL) and team ERA is 4.10 (10th in the AL).

A YEAR AGO: After 147 games in 2010, the Indians stood at 61-86, fourth place in the AL Central, 27 games back of the first-place Twins.

 

CHICAGO SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The White Sox outscored the Indians 22-19. One of Chicago’s runs was unearned. The Indians committed one error.

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 40 for 143 (.280), 11 walks

Chicago 32 for 133 (.241), 21 walks

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 11 for 26 (.423), 24 left on base

Chicago 7 for 35 (.200), 33 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 11 (4 HR)

Chicago 13 (4 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 35.1 IP, 32 H, 21 BB, 22 SO, 21 ER, 5.35 ERA

Chicago 37 IP, 40 H, 11 BB, 41 SO, 19 ER, 4.62 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 2-1; 23.2 IP, 20 H, 9 BB, 14 SO, 10 ER, 3.80 ERA

Chicago 0-2; 22.1 IP, 27 H, 6 BB, 19 SO, 13 ER, 5.24 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 0-1; 11.2 IP, 12 H, 12 BB, 8 SO, 11 ER, 8.48 ERA

Chicago 2-0; 14.2 IP, 13 H, 5 BB, 22 SO, 6 ER, 3.68 ERA

 

TEXAS SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Rangers outscored the Indians, 26-9. The Indians committed two errors. Six of the Rangers’ runs were unearned.

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 25 for 103 (.243), 7 walks

Texas 35 for 104 (.337), 11 walks

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 5 for 25 (.200), 21 left on base

Texas 9 for 25 (.360), 18 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 11 (3 HR)

Texas 15 (9 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 24 IP, 35 H, 11 BB, 12 SO, 20 ER, 7.50 ERA

Texas 27 IP, 25 H, 7 BB, 23 SO, 9 ER, 3.00 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 0-3; 15 IP, 23 H, 9 BB, 6 SO, 14 ER, 8.40 ERA

Texas 3-0; 18 IP, 15 H, 6 BB, 14 SO, 4 ER, 2.00 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 9 IP, 12 H, 2 BB, 6 SO, 6 ER, 6.00 ERA

Texas 9 IP, 10 H, 1 BB, 9 SO, 5 ER, 5.00 ERA

 

UP NEXT:

at Minnesota Twins [59-89]

(Friday 8:10 p.m.; Saturday 1:10 p.m., Sunday 2:10 p.m.)

Probable Starters:

Gomez (3-2, 3.95 ERA); Jimenez (3-2, 4.98 ERA); Masterson (11-10, 3.20 ERA)

Last year: Twins won series, 12-6

This year: Twins lead series, 6-5

 

Seattle Mariners [62-87]

(Monday 4:05 p.m.)

Probable Starter:

Huff (2-5, 3.40 ERA)

Last year: Mariners won series, 4-3

This year: Indians lead, 5-3

 

Chicago White Sox [73-76]

(Tuesday 1:05 p.m. & 4:05 p.m.; Wednesday 7:05 p.m.; Thursday 7:05 p.m.)

Probable Starters:

Carmona (6-15, 5.26 ERA); TBD; Gomez; Jimenez

Last year: Series tied, 9-9

This year: White Sox lead series, 9-5

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