Coming into the season, I would have guessed a mid-June series between the Tigers and Indians would have been a really big deal. I mean, it is a big deal, but I wouldn't have thought we'd be talking about a third place team (Tigers) and a fourth place team (Indians).
The Indians were a trendy World Series pick this year but they have really disappointed thus far, mostly because their projection system friendly rotation has underwhelmed. Trevor Bauer got hammered on Monday, allowing seven runs in three-plus innings with more walks (four) than strikeouts (three).
Following Bauer's disaster, Cleveland's starting staff has a 4.45 ERA, the sixth worst in baseball. Their 3.56 FIP paints a rosier picture (eighth best) but right now the impressive strikeout (9.6 K/9) and walk (2.6 BB/9) rates are not translating to runs prevented. Just look at their top two starters, for example:
Corey Kluber: 103 2/3 IP, 3.65 ERA, 2.66 FIP
Carlos Carrasco: 80 2/3 IP, 4.35 ERA, 2.91 FIP
There's a big disconnect there. FIP tells us both Kluber and Carrasco should be allowing roughly one fewer run per nine innings based on their strikeout, walk and home run rates, three things that correlate very highly to runs allowed.
Instead, Kluber, Carrasco and the rotation as a whole are underperforming, partly because of the club's underwhelming defense. New shortstop Francisco Lindor will help, but he is just one man. The Indians are a poor defensive team overall, which means fewer batted balls are being turned into outs. That how you end up with such a big disconnect between ERA and FIP.
The Indians are a distant fourth in the AL Central following Monday's loss. (It's far too early to write them off, of course.) The rotation has not been the strength it was believed to be coming into the season, and the starting staff is the main reason the Indians have not met expectations in 2015. They need the rotation to right the ship and fast to get back into the race.
Welcome to the Eye. It is here that we'll be building out a monster of a daily recap post throughout the day and night. We'll have recaps, injury news, rumors, fun stuff and a look ahead to Tuesday. Park it here or just come back in the morning, to each his or her own.
Today's MLB action (Full scoreboard)
Blue Jays 8, Rays 5: Recap | Box Score
Tigers 8, Indians 5: Recap | Box Score
Phillies 11, Yankees 8: Box Score ... of note ...
Last 4 #Phillies rookie third basemen with 2 HR in a game: Maikel Franco 2015 Scott Rolen 1996 Mike Schmidt 1973 Dick Allen 1964
— Ace of MLB Stats (@AceballStats) June 23, 2015
Cubs 4, Dodgers 2: Recap | Box Score
Twins 13, White Sox 2: Recap | Box Score
Royals 4, Mariners 1: Recap | Box score
Milestone Watch
Longest current hit streak: The longest active hit streak in baseball belongs to Jason Kipnis of the Indians. He doubled in the third inning on Monday to extend his streak to 17 games. Only 39 more to go to catch Joe DiMaggio!
Daily Awards
Weather photo of the day, minor league edition: Check out the sky over Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida, home of the High Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs (Rays):
#StoneCrabs lead 2-0 after 4, but it looks like this storm is about to bludgeon Charlotte Sports Park. pic.twitter.com/4seUUn0yuS
— Josh Vitale (@JoshVitale) June 22, 2015
Weather photo of the day, major league edition: Now check out the sky over Wrigley Field early Monday evening:
OK, meteorologists. Go. pic.twitter.com/0wJEDfPNjM
— #VoteCubs (@Cubs) June 23, 2015
Bunt of the day: It doesn't get much better than this Freddy Galvis job:
You can't teach that. https://t.co/jtVAyhUfFY
— MLB (@MLB) June 23, 2015
Double play of the day: Man oh man, check out this turn by Jose Iglesias and Ian Kinsler:
Turn of events of the day: In the third inning, Clayton Kershaw thought he struck out Kris Bryant with an 0-2 outside fastball to end the frame. PitchFX shows the pitch was borderline, and says similarly located pitches have been called a strike approximately 62 percent of the time this year:
Call helps #Cubs Ball 1 should be strike 3 Bot 3 Kershaw vs Bryant 38% call same 0.6in from edge pic.twitter.com/LkTYH7XQEY
— Cubs Strike Zone (@CubsUmp) June 23, 2015
Instead, it was ball one, the at-bat continued, and Kershaw hung one of his trademark sliders. Bryant didn't miss:
Throw of the day: Byron Buxton was the best prospect in baseball not named Kris Bryant coming into the season. He showed off his arm on Monday:
Home run of the day: Have yourself a day, Maikel Franco. He went 4 for 5 with two home runs and five RBI against the Yankees. His second dinger was of the no-doubter variety:
Protest of the day: A bank of lights went out at Wrigley Field on Monday. The umpires wanted to continue the game anyway, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon wanted to wait until the lights returned, so he protested the game. Here is the ordeal.
The Cubs went on to win the game, so the protest was dropped.
Eephus pitch of the day: Of the day? Maybe of the year. Check this sucker out. It froze the umpire:
The ump and the batter had no clue what to do pic.twitter.com/jMXtUuFGj9
— Kent Murphy (@RealKentMurphy) June 23, 2015
Injuries, News & Rumors
Braves 1B Freddie Freeman (wrist) likely heading to DL
Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira receives cortisone shot for neck issue
Marlins' Jose Fernandez tosses seven innings in Monday's rehab game
Cubs OF Dexter Fowler leaves game with sprained ankle
Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi feels good after bullpen session Monday
Cardinals' Phillip Sims to get corrective lenses
Angels' Tyler Skaggs wants to return to MLB in 2015
Cubs P Tsuyoshi Wada leaves game with deltoid injury
Rangers' Jurickson Profar (shoulder) playing catch
Mariners P James Paxton hasn't started throwing program yet
MRI reveals no tear on hip of Angels pitcher Jered Weaver
Report: Nationals interested in D-Backs' Aaron Hill, Nick Ahmed
Phil Coke becomes free agent after declining minor-league option
Dodgers OF Carl Crawford won't oust Andre Ethier upon return
Cubs OF Jorge Soler about a week away from rehab assignment Mariners OF Nelson Cruz suffers hamstring injury Monday
Neck problem has Indians C Yan Gomes out again Monday
Blue Jays SP Aaron Sanchez makes 25 throws from 60 feet
Blue Jays expect Devon Travis back by Friday
Cubs' Olt, Ramirez moving rehab assignments to Triple-A
Rays 1B James Loney set to field grounders, take dry swings
Rays SP Drew Smyly long tosses from 105 feet on Monday
Tigers' Alex Avila likely to begin rehab assignment Thursday
Dodgers activate RP Joel Peralta off DL
Phillies ace Cole Hamels (hamstring) good to go for Wednesday start
Yankees to use six-man rotation for one turn with Nova coming off DL
Reds closer Aroldis Chapman placed on paternity leave
Click here for more MLB player news.
Looking Ahead to Tuesday's MLB action (all times ET)
Monday's schedule is light but we return to a full slate of games on Tuesday, including two pretty fun pitching matchups in Cleveland and on Chicago's north side.
AWAY | HOME | TIME | AWAY STARTER | HOME STARTER | NATL TV |
Cincinnati | Pittsburgh | 7:05 pm | Cueto (4-4) - 2.98 ERA | Locke (4-3) - 4.74 ERA | |
Atlanta | Washington | 7:05 pm | Wood (4-4) - 3.40 ERA | Zimmermann (5-5) - 3.75 ERA | |
Philadelphia | N.Y. Yankees | 7:05 pm | O'Sullivan (1-5) - 4.79 ERA | Sabathia (3-7) - 5.31 ERA | |
St. Louis | Miami | 7:10 pm | Martinez (7-3) - 2.80 ERA | Urena (1-3) - 4.18 ERA | FS1 |
Baltimore | Boston | 7:10 pm | Jimenez (5-3) - 3.27 ERA | Kelly (2-4) - 5.32 ERA | |
Toronto | Tampa Bay | 7:10 pm | Dickey (3-6) - 4.96 ERA | Archer (8-4) - 2.18 ERA | |
Detroit | Cleveland | 7:10 pm | Price (6-2) - 2.50 ERA | Salazar (6-2) - 3.56 ERA | |
L.A. Dodgers | Chi. Cubs | 8:05 pm | Greinke (5-2) - 1.81 ERA | Hammel (5-2) - 2.89 ERA | |
Oakland | Texas | 8:05 pm | Chavez (3-6) - 2.52 ERA | Gonzalez (2-1) - 0.90 ERA | |
N.Y. Mets | Milwaukee | 8:10 pm | Niese (3-7) - 4.21 ERA | Fiers (3-7) - 4.50 ERA | |
Chi. White Sox | Minnesota | 8:10 pm | Samardzija (4-4) - 4.67 ERA | Pelfrey (5-3) - 2.97 ERA | |
Arizona | Colorado | 8:40 pm | Anderson (3-1) - 2.84 ERA | Kendrick (2-9) - 5.95 ERA | |
Houston | L.A. Angels | 10:05 pm | McHugh (7-3) - 5.04 ERA | Wilson (5-5) - 3.39 ERA | MLB |
Kansas City | Seattle | 10:10 pm | Guthrie (5-4) - 5.55 ERA | Montgomery (1-2) - 2.73 ERA | MLB |
San Diego | San Francisco | 10:15 pm | Despaigne (3-5) - 4.92 ERA | Bumgarner (7-4) - 3.09 ERA |