CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians are calling upon their ace.
The Indians are looking for a strong start to the 2018 American League Division Series against the reigning World Series Champion Houston Astros, and they are turning to 20-game winner Corey Kluber for today’s Game 1 matchup at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
“We love it,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of starting Kluber in Game 1.
“I’m sure they feel the same way with (Justin) Verlander. I think, as an organization or a team, you do what you think puts you in the best position. If that’s to have an opener, okay, but I know how we feel with Kluber pitching, and it’s good, and he’s earned that. Same with Verlander.”
In his 33 starts this season, Kluber (20-7) registered 222 strikeouts against 34 walks, 179 hits and 69 earned runs allowed over 215.0 innings of work while anchoring a pitching staff that led the way to the Indians’ third consecutive AL Central Division Championship.
Opposing batters hit just .223 against Kluber this season.
“Regardless of who you’re playing, you prepare for those nine hitters,” Kluber said. “The way I look at it, you don’t prepare any less for a guy hitting eighth or ninth than a guy hitting first or second because there’s no telling what the situation is going to be when any of those guys come up to the plate.
“You don’t want to be unprepared just because a guy is at the bottom of the lineup and you’re not ready to face him in a big spot. At least for me, I prepare for each one of them, one through nine, as well as the guys that might pinch-hit just so that when it does come time to face them, you feel like you’re as prepared and ready as possible.”
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, Kluber won four games in three different months this season, starting with an 8-1 slate through April and May. Additionally, Kluber posted a 4-1 record over his six August starts.
An AL All-Star for the third consecutive season, Kluber posted an 8-2 record in 13 starts following the 2018 MLB All-Star Game. Over 81.1 innings pitched, Kluber struck out 90 batters and walked only 17 while cutting down on his home runs allowed.
Kluber allowed 19 home runs in 133.2 innings pitched before the Mid-Summer Classic, but in 50 less innings of work since mid-July, he surrendered only six round-trippers.
A dominant pitcher in the 2016 postseason, where the Indians were within a win of their first World Series Championship since 1948, Kluber struggled mightily against the New York Yankees in the 2017 ALDS. Kluber had a 12.79 ERA and opponents hit .345 against him over just 6.1 innings of work in two starts.
“Whether a game I pitch or a month I have or a year I have is good or bad, the way I look at it is I’m looking forward to the next one,” Kluber said. “Not really, like I said, not dwelling on previous outings or games. Whether they’re good or bad, I think it’s focusing on your next opponent and preparing yourself to face them.”
