Written by Jonathan Knight

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NEEDING QUANTITIES OF QUALITY: After filing six straight games with a quality start from their starting pitcher, the Indians have now gone six consecutive games without getting a quality start. Not surprisingly, the Tribe went 1-5 in those six games and 4-2 in the previous six, highlighting a season-long trend. When the Indians’ starting pitcher turns in a quality start (at least 6 IP, no more than 3 ER allowed), the  Tribe is 21-7. When their starting pitcher doesn’t have a quality start, they’re 6-16.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS: The Indians have only allowed 41 home runs this season, the lowest total in the American League. Yet their team ERA is still 4.49, the league’s third-worst.

COMING BACK: Monday’s win over the Royals was the Tribe’s 13th come-from-behind triumph of the season.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against the White Sox dropped to 997-1,043, while their mark against the Royals fell to 300-282.

SILENT THIEVES: Very quietly, the Indians have crept into third place in the American League in stolen bases with 42.

SEVEN UP: The Indians have now allowed seven runs or more 15 times this season (30% of their games). Their record in these games is 3-12, and they’ve lost nine straight.

A BLIP ON THE RADAR?: Indians’ starting pitchers entered Chicago with a 3.84 ERA for the season. In the three games against the White Sox, their ERA was an embarrassing 15.75.

DIVISIONAL MATTERS: The Tribe is now 14-12 against Central Division opponents. The White Sox are 15-11 and the Tigers are 11-10.

ROLE REVERSAL: The Indians have lost five of their last seven games against the Royals in Cleveland, but seven of their last eight in Kansas City. 

FOURTEEN MISERIES: The 14 runs the White Sox scored on Saturday were the most the Indians had allowed in a game since the Tigers also plated 14 in a shutout victory last Sept. 26.

FEEDING OFF THE TRIBE: The White Sox are averaging 7.1 runs per game in 12 contests against the Indians this season, but just 4.7 runs per game overall.

ACTUALLY...: Going against popular conception, prior to last weekend the Indians really hadn’t struggled in Chicago in recent years, posting a record of 16-14 at US Cellular Field since 2008.

THE 300 CLUB: The win on Memorial Day marked the Tribe’s 300th all-time over the Royals.

MATINEE STREAK BUSTED: Wednesday’s loss snapped the Tribe’s four-game winning streak in weekday afternoon contests. 

THE BOTTOM FALLING OUT: After the Tribe only permitted the Tigers to score six runs in three games in their series last week, the Indians allowed an average of nine runs per game over their next six contests.

EMBARRASSING: Last week the Indians only had two extra-base hits in their three games against the Royals, whose team ERA ranked 11th in the American League. 

MORE TROUBLING NUMBERS: Tuesday night’s game marked the Tribe’s 15th contest played before less than 15,000 fans at Progressive Field in 29 home dates this season.

MEMORIAL MEMORIES: The last time the Indians were in first place on Memorial Day in two consecutive years was 1998/1999.

HOT BATS FOR THE BAD GUYS: The White Sox hit an astonishing .384 as a team last weekend against the Indians, but an even more incredible .478 with runners in scoring position (22 for 46). The Royals topped that by hitting an even .500 with runners in scoring position against the Indians in Cleveland (12 for 24). Put them together and Chicago and K.C. hit a combined .486 (34 for 70) with runners in scoring position against Cleveland.

A YEAR AGO: After 50 games in 2011, the Indians stood at 31-19, best record in the American League and first place in the AL Central, 6 games ahead of the Tigers.

 

PROGRESS REPORT:

The Indians are averaging 4.38 runs per game and allowing 4.86.

Batting average: .248 (9th in AL)

Slugging percentage: .381 (11th in AL)

On-base percentage: .334 (3rd in AL)

Walks: 203 (1st in AL)

Stolen bases: 42 (3rd in AL)

Strikeouts: 320 (3rd-fewest in AL)

With runners in scoring position: .249 (110 for 442)

 

Team ERA: 4.49 (12th in AL)

Walks allowed: 193 (2nd-fewest in AL)

Strikeouts: 323 (12th-most in AL)

Opponents with runners in scoring position: .290 (137 for 472)

Errors: 25 (5th-fewest in AL)

 

STARTING PITCHERS:

19-19, 4.61 ERA

(297.1 IP, 152 ER)

RELIEF PITCHERS:

8-4, 19 saves, 3 blown saves, 4.28 ERA

(159.2 IP, 76 ER)

 

INDIANS’ OVERALL RECORD IN GAMES STARTED BY:

Lowe 6-4 (8 quality starts)

Gomez 5-4 (4 quality starts)

Jimenez 5-5 (5 quality starts)

Tomlin 4-2 (3 quality starts)

Masterson 4-7 (6 quality starts)

McAllister 3-1 (2 quality starts)

 

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN GETTING QUALITY START: 21-7

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN NOT GETTING QUALITY START: 6-16

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY UNIFORM:

White Script “Indians”: 7-7

Blue Script “Indians”: 9-6

Gray Block “Cleveland”: 6-5

Creamy white home alternate: 5-5

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY CAP:

Chief Wahoo Cap: 16-13

Block C Blue Cap: 6-5

Block C Red Cap: 4-5

Red, White & Blue Block C Red Cap: 1-0

 

ATTENDANCE WATCH: The Indians are averaging 16,637 fans per home game - last in the AL.

 

CHICAGO SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The White Sox outscored the Indians, 35-16. The Indians committed two errors and the White Sox committed one. One of Chicago’s runs was unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 25 for 104 (.240), 4 walks, 5 HBP (.301 on-base percentage)

Chicago 43 for 112 (.384), 13 walks, 2 HBP (.457 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 7 for 28 (.250), 16 left on base

Chicago 22 for 46 (.478), 20 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 9 (4 HR)

Chicago 17 (6 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

Cleveland 3

Chicago 4

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 24 IP, 43 H, 13 BB, 19 SO, 34 ER, 12.75 ERA

Chicago 27 IP, 25 H, 4 BB, 24 SO, 16 ER, 5.33 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 0-3; 12 IP, 23 H, 8 BB, 9 SO, 21 ER, 15.75 ERA

Chicago 3-0; 17.1 IP, 20 H, 4 BB, 17 SO, 14 ER, 7.27 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 12 IP, 20 H, 5 BB, 10 SO, 13 ER, 9.75 ERA 

Chicago 9.2 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 SO, 2 ER, 1.86 ERA

 

KANSAS CITY SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Royals outscored the Indians, 19-13. The Royals committed seven errors and the Indians committed one. Two of the Indians’ runs were unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Kansas City 30 for 106 (.283), 9 walks, 2 HBP (.350 on-base percentage)

Cleveland 29 for 105 (.276), 8 walks, 1 HBP (.333 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Kansas City 12 for 24 (.500), 19 left on base

Cleveland 11 for 32 (.344), 24 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Kansas City 8 (2 HR)

Cleveland 2 (1 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

Kansas City 3 (1 caught stealing)

Cleveland 7 (1 caught stealing)

 

Overall Pitching

Kansas City 26 IP, 29 H, 8 BB, 15 SO, 12 ER, 4.15 ERA

Cleveland 27 IP, 30 H, 9 BB, 27 SO, 18 ER, 6.00 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Kansas City 2-1; 13.1 IP, 17 H, 6 BB, 8 SO, 9 ER, 6.08 ERA

Cleveland 1-2; 16 IP, 23 H, 3 BB, 15 SO, 16 ER, 9.00 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Kansas City 12.2 IP, 12 H, 2 BB, 7 SO, 3 ER, 2.13 ERA

Cleveland 1 save; 11 IP, 7 H, 6 BB, 12 SO, 2 ER, 1.64 ERA 

 

UP NEXT: 

Minnesota Twins [18-32]

(Friday 7:05 p.m.; Saturday 7:15 p.m., Sunday 3:05 p.m.)

Last year: Indians won season series, 11-7

This year: Indians lead season series, 2-0

 

at Detroit Tigers [23-27]

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

Last year: Tigers won season series, 12-6

This year: Indians lead season series, 3-0

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