Written by Jonathan Knight

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ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Blue Jays surged ahead in the all-time series with the Tribe, 188-187, while the White Sox upped their all-time lead over the Indians to 1,037-993.

GOOD OMEN, BAD OMEN: The last time the Indians opened the season on a Thursday was 1995, when they went on to win 100 games and reached the World Series. The last time they opened the season against Toronto was 1987, when they went on to lose 100 games and post the worst record in baseball.

WE’VE SEEN WORSE: For as miserable as Chris Perez was in failing to close out the opener (0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 ER), it wasn’t his worst career outing. He gave up three runs - including two homers - to the Yankees without recording an out in 2010, and twice surrendered four earned runs in less than an inning of work to the White Sox (June 29, 2009 and Sept. 10, 2011).

CONNECT FOUR: The Indians’ all-time record on opening day now stands at 57-55. They have now lost four straight openers, with their last victory coming in 2008. Their four-game opening day losing streak ties a franchise record, matching the four-year skids from 1969-1972, 1979-1982, 1990-1993, and 2003-2006.

SENDING ‘EM HOME DISAPPOINTED: The Tribe has lost eight of its last 10 opening day games and has dropped five of its last six home openers, including its last four. The Indians’ record in home openers at Jacobs/Progressive Field stands at 9-10.

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: The Indians have never won a postseason series in a year in which they lost on opening day.

AWFULLY FAMILIAR: Thursday marked the Indians’ first foray into extra innings on opening day since blowing a 4-0 eighth-inning lead and dropping a 7-4 decision in Minnesota in 11 innings in 2004.

NIGHT AND DAY, PART 1: Chris Perez’s disastrous outing Thursday (0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 ER, 31 pitches) was even more difficult to understand when compared to his combined appearances the next two days (2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 38 pitches).

MORE BUTTS IN THE SEATS: The renewed interest in the Indians was exemplified by the attendance totals in the first weekend, with each game marking a higher tally than its counterpart on opening weekend the year before. 2012’s opening weekend drew 72,550, compared to 60,300 in 2011 - a 20% increase.

NIGHT AND DAY, PART 2: The contrast between the Indians’ starting pitchers and relievers in the Toronto series was stark: the starters went 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 18 IP, the relievers went 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA in 15 IP. The relievers improved slightly against Chicago (5.63 ERA), while the starters declined dramatically (6.30) ERA.

TOUGH GOING: Through the first four games, the Indians averaged less than six hits per game - 0.51 hits per inning.

SOUR STREAKS: Dating back to last year, the Indians have now lost four straight games to Chicago and six straight games against AL Central opponents.

NIGHT AND DAY, PART 3: In his second start of the season, Justin Masterson's ERA swelled from 1.13 to 2.77. His 99 pitches in the opener got him through eight innings, but it took him 94 pitches to get through five innings on Thursday.

A YEAR AGO: After five games in 2011, the Indians stood at 3-2, second place in the AL Central, a half-game behind Kansas City.

 

PROGRESS REPORT:

The Indians are averaging scoring 4 runs per game and allowing 6.2. 

Batting average: .176 (14th in AL)

Slugging percentage: .326 (11th in AL)

On-base percentage: .290 (10th in AL)

Walks: 28 (2nd in AL)

Strikeouts: 38 (10th in AL)

With runners in scoring position: .156 (5 for 32)

 

Team ERA: 4.42 (12th in AL)

Walks allowed: 19 (9th in AL)

Strikeouts: 45 (5th in AL)

Opponents with runners in scoring position: .348 (16 for 46)

Errors: 4 (2nd in AL)

 

INDIANS’ OVERALL RECORD IN GAMES STARTED BY:

Lowe 1-0

Jimenez 0-1

Tomlin 0-1

Masterson 0-2

 

TORONTO SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Blue Jays outscored the Indians, 17-12. The Blue Jays committed three errors and the Indians committed two. Two of Toronto’s runs were unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Toronto 27 for 136 (.199), 13 walks (.269 on-base percentage)

Cleveland 18 for 118 (.153), 20 walks (.275 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Toronto 9 for 29 (.310), 25 left on base

Cleveland 3 for 18 (.167), 20 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Toronto 10 (3 HR)

Cleveland 7 (5 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Toronto 36 IP, 18 H, 20 BB, 22 SO, 12 ER, 3.00 ERA

Cleveland 37 IP, 27 H, 13 BB, 29 SO, 15 ER, 3.65 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Toronto 0-1; 18 IP, 10 H, 10 BB, 10 SO, 8 ER, 4.00 ERA

Cleveland 1-0; 22 IP, 8 H, 5 BB, 14 SO, 3 ER, 1.23 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Toronto 2-0, 1 blown save; 18 IP, 8 H, 10 BB, 12 SO, 2 ER, 1.00 ERA 

Cleveland 0-2, 1 save, 1 blown save; 15 IP, 19 H, 8 BB, 15 SO, 12 ER, 7.20 ERA

 

CHICAGO SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The White Sox outscored the Indians, 14-8. Both teams committed two errors. Two of Chicago’s runs were unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Chicago 22 for 74 (.297), 6 walks (.350 on-base percentage)

Cleveland 15 for 69 (.217), 8 walks (.299 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Chicago 7 for 17 (.412), 14 left on base

Cleveland 2 for 14 (.143), 17 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Chicago 9 (4 HR)

Cleveland 5 (3 HR)

 

Overall Pitching

Chicago 18 IP, 15 H, 8 BB, 16 SO, 8 ER, 4.00 ERA

Cleveland 17 IP, 22 H, 6 BB, 16 SO, 12 ER, 6.35 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Chicago 2-0, 12.1 IP, 10 H, 7 BB, 8 SO 5 ER, 3.65 ERA

Cleveland 0-2; 10 IP, 15 H, 2 BB, 9 SO, 7 ER, 6.30 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Chicago 1 save; 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 8 SO, 3 ER, 4.76 ERA

Cleveland 8 IP, 7 H, 4 BB, 7 SO, 5 ER, 5.63 ERA

 

UP NEXT: 

at Kansas City Royals [3-3]

(Friday 4:10 p.m.; Saturday 7:10 p.m., Sunday, 2:10 p.m.)

Last year: Indians won season series, 12-6

 

 

at Seattle Mariners [4-4]

(Tuesday 10:10 p.m.; Wednesday 10:10 p.m.; Thursday 10:10 p.m.)

Last year: Indians won season series, 5-4

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