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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Now is not a good time to be part of the replacement starting rotation for the Indians.
For the third time in as many days, the Indians have chosen a starting pitcher for Class AAA Columbus as they attempt to reform the rotation for the start of the game after the all-star break.
Lefty Sam Hentges was optioned for Class AAA Columbus on Friday. Right-hander Triston McKenzie took his place on the 26-man roster and started against the Royals on Friday night at Progressive Field.
In the past three days, Hentges, right-hander JC Mejia and left-hander Logan Allen have been optioned to Columbus. As front row starters Zach Plesac, Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale landed on the injured list from May 23 to June 21, the Indians needed arms to complete the rotation. Mejia and Hentges were among those who had a chance.
Mejia and Hentges made a total of 15 starts. Allen, a member of the five-start opening day rotation, was called up for two starts before being optional for Columbus on Wednesday. Mejia was selected Thursday as Plesac slipped off the injured list to start against Kansas City.
Right now the rotation looks like this: Plesac, McKenzie, Cal Quantrill, and Eli Morgan. Bieber and Civale are “a few weeks away” from joining the rotation according to Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations. Who knows what the rotation will look like when the Indians come out of hiatus for a six-game trip to Oakland and Houston?
Manager Terry Francona says each starter will know their role before the All-Star break. But the rotation, he said, is still being worked out.
“We are fixing the problem as we go,” Francona said. “Carl (Willis, pitching coach) and I have a pretty good idea of what we want to do in the first set (vs. Oakland). But we have to spend the next few days. We never want the guys to come home during the break not knowing when they will throw.
Plesac and McKenzie were part of the opening day rotation, but it will be some time before this whole group is reunited. McKenzie, by the way, has already rebounded between Indians and Columbus five times this season.
Whether Hentges, Mejia or Allen returns to Progressive Field this year will depend on their performances in Columbus and the health and performance of a rotation that continues to be remade on the fly.
Hentges, for example, was sent to Columbus with a plan to make more use of his fastball.
“We want him to really try to focus on his fast pitch,” said Francona. “He’s got a good breaking ball, but to maintain consistent success he will have to use his fastball and not just default on other courts. He understands.”
Francona is unsure whether Hentges will pitch as a starter or reliever for the Clippers. He said he would make shorter appearances.
“We’ll be using him in shorter runs to start off so we can get him back to throwing his fastball with conviction and for the strikes,” said Francona. “And if he doesn’t pitch it for strikes, he comes back with it and doesn’t necessarily default to a shattering ball.”
The opposition, according to baseballsavant.com, hit 0.467 on Hentges’ four-seam fastpitch. They hit 0.164 on his curve, 0.316 on his cursor and 0.381 on his lead. In 15 games, the opposition hit 0.343 on the left-hander 6-6.
“You’re in a major league game and you’re trying to survive and get whatever you can,” Francona said. “But for the longevity and success of his career, he has to throw his fast pitch. We saw it touching 97 mph during spring training. It was like “here, hit him” and it slipped out of his mind. “
Hentges went 1-4 with an 8.23 ERA in 15 games, including eight starts. Mejia is 1-4 with a 7.42 ERA in 10 games, including eight starts. Allen is 1-5 with a 9.13 ERA in seven starts, including five in April.
N ° 1: Speed to burn
It’s easy to see what Franmil Reyes at 6-5 and 265 pounds is bringing to Indians. He showed it with his ninth inning three-run homerun Thursday night against the Royals.
Francona, however, sees more than power,
“I told him last night, ‘Hey, we’re having a hard time here,'” Francona said, referring to the nine-game losing streak. “I said to him: ‘The way you manage the bases’, because he really gives a good effort on the bases, ‘It brings a lot of energy to our canoe.’ I told him ‘don’t forget that because it means a lot to me and a lot to others.’
“This is leadership. “
N ° 2: How to deal with stage fright
McKenzie, on his last major league start on June 12, failed to come out of the first inning against Seattle. He threw 32 pitches, walking four and allowing a hit.
After the game, he told reporters that one of the reasons for his short start was that he was not used to throwing in front of so many people. The crowd at Progressive Field was 20,116 spectators and McKenzie said he was a little overwhelmed by that.
It was pointed out to Francona that a good-sized crowd is expected for Friday’s game. It was Dollar Dog night and there were fireworks afterwards.
“I was going to ask our guys not to have a Dollar Dog party, but I don’t think they’re going to go for that,” Francona said with a smile. “As an organization we obviously visited Triston on a number of topics, but we didn’t necessarily beat him to the head with it. I think it’s a microcosm of other things.
N ° 3: Handle with care
Francona has been proceeding cautiously with Reyes and wide receiver Roberto Perez since they came off the injured list on July 2 and 3, respectively. That could change after the All-Star hiatus.
“I would say when we come back after the break,” said Francona, “we’re probably in a situation where we can start playing guys as the competition demands as opposed to a schedule. But if need be, we’ll do it for as long as we need it. “
N ° 4: Finally
Bieber began throwing weighted balls on Friday for the first time since being put on the casualty list on June 14. “He had ramped up,” Francona said. Bieber will also have his right shoulder examined this weekend. Civil (right middle finger) continues to play wrestling. … Bobby bradley entered Friday’s game 0.327 (16 for 49) with six homers and 11 RBIs at Progressive Field since his June 5 recall. … Indians are 37-9 when they score four or more points and 6-33 with three or less. … Japanese journalist asked Francona if he had a right-handed message Daisuke Matsuzaka, who recently announced his retirement while launching in Japan. Matsuzaka pitched for Francona in Boston from 2007 to 2011. Francona said: “I congratulate him on his wonderful career in the United States and Japan and hope he has as much fun and success in his second career as in its premiere. “
A variety of face masks for Cleveland Indians available online today. (Fanatiques.com)
New Indian masks for sale: Here’s where you can purchase Cleveland Indian-themed face covers for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a 3-pack ($ 24.99). All MLB profits are donated to charity.
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