Written by Jonathan Knight

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FOUR'S THE MAGIC NUMBER: The Indians have scored three runs or less 41 times in 2012, reflecting 45% of their games. They're 11-30 in these games and 36-15 when scoring four runs or more. 

LOUSY THIEVES: Over the last two series, the Indians have stolen two bases while their opponents have stolen 13.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against the Blue Jays dropped to 188-190, while their mark against the Rays moved to 73-46.

AT LEAST AS GOOD AS WHAT WE’VE GOT: Toronto’s starting pitcher on Saturday was Aaron Laffey, who’d bounced in and out of the Tribe’s starting rotation between 2007 and 2010. Since being traded away in March of 2011, he’s now 4-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 55 appearances with three different major-league teams over the last two seasons.

GOOD CONTROL: Zach McAllister has not thrown a wild pitch or hit a batter all season - covering more than 48 innings pitched. On the other hand, he’s the only Indians’ starter to be called for a balk.

NOT COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH: Take away Wednesday night’s aberration and the Indians are hitting .133 with runners in scoring position since the All-Star Break.

BAD UBALDO: Saturday’s shellacking was Ubaldo Jimenez’s worst performance as a member of the Indians. He’d also permitted eight runs against Detroit last August but lasted 3.1 innings. For as mediocre as he’s been this year, Saturday was only the third time in 2012 he’s allowed more than four earned runs in an outing - followed by the fourth on Thursday.

STILL WINNING THE CLOSE ONES: The Indians are now 14-5 in one-run games.

COMING ALIVE?: Wednesday was the 6th time this season the Indians have scored 10 or more runs in a game, their fourth since June 18.

BAD BY THE BAY: Going into last week, the Indians were 4-12 in Tampa over the last four years. They haven’t won a series from the Rays home or away since completing a four-game sweep of the Rays in July of 2009.

LIGHTING UP IN A LOSING EFFORT: The nine runs the Indians scored on Saturday were the most they’d plated in a defeat this season, topping the eight runs they scored in their 9-8 loss in Baltimore June 29.

BOUNCING BACK: After his last two blown saves prior to his most recent against Tampa Bay on July 8, Chris Perez went on to successfully convert nine and 24 straight saves, respectively.

THE GOOSE-EGG EXPRESS: Friday night’s win was the Tribe’s fifth shutout of the season, topping their total of four from last season. It also marked their first 1-0 victory since last June against the Yankees.

ON THE OTHER HAND: Sunday marked the 14th time this season the Indians have either been shut out or only scored one run in a game.

A YEAR AGO: After 92 games in 2011, the Indians stood at 49-43, first place in the AL Central, a game ahead of Detroit.

 

PROGRESS REPORT: 

The Indians are averaging 4.46 runs per game and allowing 4.85.

Batting average: .257 (9th in AL)

Slugging percentage: .399 (10th in AL)

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

Walks: 342 (1st in AL)

Stolen bases: 61 (8th in AL)

Strikeouts: 593 (2nd-fewest in AL)

With runners in scoring position: .244 (200 for 820)

 

Team ERA: 4.53 (13th in AL)

Walks allowed: 322 (3rd-fewest in AL)

Strikeouts: 612 (3rd-fewest in AL)

Opponents with runners in scoring position: .289 (235 for 813)

Errors: 48 (4th-fewest in AL)

 

STARTING PITCHERS:

35-39, 4.70 ERA

(544.1 IP, 284 ER)

 

RELIEF PITCHERS:

12-6, 28 saves, 4 blown saves, 4.20 ERA

(276.2 IP, 129 ER)

 

INDIANS’ OVERALL RECORD IN GAMES STARTED BY:

Lowe 9-9 (13 quality starts)

Jimenez 9-10 (10 quality starts)

Tomlin 8-6 (6 quality starts)

Masterson 9-11 (12 quality starts)

Gomez 6-7 (4 quality starts)

McAllister 6-2 (4 quality starts)

 

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN GETTING QUALITY START: 36-13

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN NOT GETTING QUALITY START: 11-32

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY UNIFORM:

White Script “Indians”: 13-9

Blue Script “Indians”: 18-13

Gray Block “Cleveland”: 10-13

Creamy white home alternate: 6-10

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY CAP:

Chief Wahoo Cap: 30-22

Block C Blue Cap: 10-13

Block C Red Cap: 5-10

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

Silver Chief Wahoo Cap: 1-0

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY DAY OF THE WEEK:

Sunday: 6-9

Monday: 6-3

Tuesday: 7-6

Wednesday: 7-7

Thursday: 7-5

Friday: 9-5

Saturday: 5-10

 

ATTENDANCE WATCH: The Indians are averaging 19,256 fans per home game - 14th in the AL

 

TORONTO SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Blue Jays outscored the Indians 14-10. The Indians committed an error. All of the runs scored in the series were earned.

 

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 25 for 100 (.250), 9 walks, 1 HBP (.309 on-base percentage)

Toronto 23 for 94 (.245), 11 walks, (.324 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 3 for 26 (.115), 25 left on base

Toronto 7 for 21 (.333), 16 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 8 (4 HR)

Toronto 11 (3 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

Cleveland 1 (2 caught stealing)

Toronto 5 (1 caught stealing)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 25 IP, 23 H, 11 BB, 20 SO, 14 ER, 5.04 ERA

Toronto 27 IP, 25 H, 15 BB, 23 SO, 10 ER, 3.33 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 1-2; 15.1 IP, 15 H, 9 BB, 12 SO, 11 ER, 6.46 ERA

Toronto 2-1; 17 IP, 17 H, 10 BB, 18 SO, 5 ER, 2.65 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 1 save; 9.2 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 8 SO, 3 ER, 2.79 ERA 

Toronto 2 saves; 10 IP, 8 H, 5 BB, 5 SO, 5 ER, 4.50 ERA

 

TAMPA BAY SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Rays outscored the Indians, 18-15. Each team committed an error. One of the Indians’ runs was unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Cleveland 28 for 124 (.226), 18 walks, 2 HBP, 1 SF (.331 on-base percentage)

Tampa Bay 34 for 129 (.264), 22 walks, 2 HBP, 1 SF (.377 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Cleveland 10 for 31 (.323), 23 left on base 

Tampa Bay 10 for 45 (.222), 35 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Cleveland 9 (1 HR)

Tampa Bay 10 (3 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

Cleveland 1 (2 caught stealing)

Tampa Bay 8 (2 caught stealing)

 

Overall Pitching

Cleveland 34 IP, 34 H, 22 BB, 26 SO, 18 ER, 4.77 ERA

Tampa Bay 36 IP, 28 H, 18 BB, 31 SO, 14 ER, 3.50 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Cleveland 1-2; 21.2 IP, 24 H, 17 BB, 12 SO, 14 ER, 5.82 ERA

Tampa Bay 2-1; 21.1 IP, 15 H, 14 BB, 15 SO, 7 ER, 2.95 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland 1-0, 1 save; 12.1 IP, 10 H, 5 BB, 14 SO, 4 ER, 2.92 ERA 

Tampa Bay 0-1, 1 save; 14.2 IP, 13 H, 4 BB, 16 SO, 7 ER, 4.29 ERA

 

UP NEXT: 

Baltimore Orioles [48-44]

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

Last year: Indians won season series, 5-2

This year: Indians lead season series, 3-1

 

Detroit Tigers [49-44]

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

Last year: Tigers won season series, 12-6

This year: Indians lead season series, 5-1

 

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