CLEVELAND -- Following the Cleveland Indians’ 7-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in the first of a three-game series at Progressive Field Monday, there was plenty of talk about the bullpen, specifically the continued struggles of Josh Tomlin.
Also, there was the discussion about these games “not really mattering” because it’s a 162-game season with nearly half a schedule to play and the Indians enjoying a large lead in the American League Central Division, which is widely considered the worst in the sport this season as the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals are in the midst of rebuilds.
And while it is understandable why people feel there is plenty of time to get right ahead of the postseason, there are reasons why these games matter.
LEADS DON’T LAST LONG DURING SLUMPS
If the Indians are not careful, their current three-game slide could turn into a slump, and while they enjoy an 8.5-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the Central Division, advantages in the standings do not guarantee future success.
Having gone on record-setting win streaks in each of the last two years, the Indians know well how two weeks can change everything.
When you’re so far ahead, it is understandable about wanting to experiment and give struggling players multiple chances to recover their games. However, their lead in the Central Division already diminished by 25 percent in the last three days.
STILL NO REPLACEMENT FOR SHAW
The Indians knew there would be struggles within the bullpen, especially considering they had to find arms to replace Bryan Shaw in that “middle relief” role, and with injuries hampering Andrew Miller’s productivity, there was an understanding that it could get a little rough at times.
Tomlin began the year as a starter, but quickly found himself working in long relief roles because of his struggles to keep the ball in the park, and instead of going away, those troubles reared up twice over the last three days.
Tomlin surrendered a home run in extra innings of Saturday’s loss to the Oakland Athletics, and then, came into Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds already down by four runs and allowed a two-run homer. The Indians scored enough runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to have tied the game if Tomlin kept the Reds off the board.
Fellow right-hander Zach McAllister has not given the Indians much support in that regard either, as he has a 5.70 earned run average, with 23 earned runs allowed over just 36.1 innings of work. McAllister has allowed the third-most home runs of Indians relievers this season.
Additionally, opponents are hitting .292 against McAllister.
BOTTOM OF ORDER ISSUES
The Indians have an All-Star top of the batting order in shortstop Francisco Lindor, third baseman Jose Ramirez and outfielder Michael Brantley among the league leaders in several statistical categories, but once opposing pitchers get beyond sluggers Edwin Encarnacion and Yonder Alonso, clutch hits have been hard to come by.
Catcher Yan Gomes has the most home runs, 10, and second baseman Jason Kipnis the most runs batted in, 37, in the bottom third of the order, but outside of the occasional big hits from the former Silver Slugger and AL All-Star, respectively, there is not enough production for opposing pitchers to worry or tighten up.
