A look at the best-of-five American League Division Series
between the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros
SCHEDULE: (All
times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at Houston, 2:05 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday, at Houston,
4:37 p.m.; Game 3, Monday, Oct. 8, at Cleveland, 1:30 p.m.; x-Game 4, Tuesday,
Oct. 9, at Cleveland, 4:35 p.m.; x-Game 5, Thursday, Oct. 11, at Houston, 4:07
p.m. (All games on TBS). x-if necessary.
SEASON SERIES:
Astros won 4-3.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
INDIANS: SS
Francisco Lindor (.277, 38 HRs, 92 RBIs, 42 2Bs, 25 SBs), LF Michael Brantley
(.309, 17, 76), 2B Jose Ramirez (.272, 39, 106, 34 SBs), DH Edwin Encarnacion
(.246, 32, 107), 3B Josh Donaldson (.246, 8, 23 with Blue Jays and Indians), 1B
Yonder Alonso (.250, 23, 83), RF Melky Cabrera (.280, 6, 39 in 78 games), C Yan
Gomes (.266, 16, 48), CF Jason Kipnis (.230, 18, 75).
ASTROS: CF George
Springer (.265, 22, 71), 2B Jose Altuve (.315, 13, 61), 3B Alex Bregman (.286,
31, 103, AL-best 51 doubles, 84 walks, 82 Ks), SS Carlos Correa (.239, 15, 65),
1B Yuli Gurriel (.291, 13, 85), DH Evan Gattis (.226, 25, 78), LF Marwin
Gonzalez (.247, 16, 68), RF Josh Reddick (.242, 17, 47), C Martin Maldonado
(.225, 9, 44 for Angels and Astros) or Brian McCann (.212, 7, 23 in 63 games).
STARTING PITCHERS
INDIANS: RH Corey
Kluber (20-7, 2.89 ERA, 222 Ks in league-leading 215 IP), RH Carlos Carrasco
(17-10, 3.38, career-high 231 Ks), RH Mike Clevinger (13-8, 3.02, career-high
200 IP, 207 Ks), RH Trevor Bauer (12-6, 2.21, 221 Ks in 175 1/3 IP).
ASTROS: RH Justin
Verlander (16-9, 2.52, AL-high 290 Ks and only 37 walks in 214 IP), RH Gerrit
Cole (15-5, 2.88, 2nd in AL with 276 Ks in 200 1/3 IP), LH Dallas Keuchel
(12-11, 3.74), RH Charlie Morton (15-3, 3.13).
RELIEVERS
INDIANS: RH Cody Allen (4-6, 4.70, 27/32 saves), LH Brad
Hand (2-5, 2.75, 32/39 saves with Padres and Indians), LH Andrew Miller (2-4,
4.24, 37 appearances, fewest since 2013), RH Shane Bieber (11-5, 4.55 in 19
starts), LH Oliver Perez (1-1, 1.39 in 51 appearances), LH Adam Cimber (3-8,
3.42 in 70 games for Padres and Indians).
ASTROS: RH Roberto Osuna (2-2, 2.37, 21/22 saves for Blue
Jays and Astros), RH Ryan Pressly (2-1, 2.54, 2 saves for Twins and Astros), RH
Hector Rondon (2-5, 3.20, 15 saves), LH Tony Sipp (3-1, 1.86, 54 appearances),
RH Collin McHugh (6-2, 1.99, 58 appearances), RH Will Harris (5-3, 3.49, 61
appearances), RH Josh James (2-0, 2.35), RH Brad Peacock (3-5, 3.46, 61
appearances), RH Joe Smith (5-1, 3.74, 56 appearances), RH Lance McCullers (10-6,
3.86 in 25 games, 22 starts).
MATCHUPS
First postseason meeting between these teams. ... Indians
faced Astros twice in May, losing two of three games at Minute Maid Park before
splitting four-game series with defending World Series champions in Cleveland.
Houston outscored Cleveland 45-29 overall. ... Cleveland won 8-6 and 10-9
slugfests over Houston in final two games, taking the finale on Greg Allen's
walk-off homer in 14th inning. ... Indians batted just .229 against Houston
pitchers. ... Lindor had major issues against the Astros, batting only .097 (3
for 31) and striking out seven times. His career average is just .201 vs.
Houston. ... One bright spot for Cleveland's offense was Encarnacion, who
batted .346 (9 for 26) with two homers, five RBIs and scored seven runs. He was
only Indians regular to hit over .300. ... Kluber dominated in two starts,
going 1-0 with 1.35 ERA and 17 strikeouts. ... Indians bench coach Brad Mills
was Astros manager from 2010-12. ... Cleveland is 10-6 at Houston since 2014.
... Indians ranked second in MLB with .259 batting average and Astros were
seventh at .255. ... Astros led majors with 3.11 ERA and Indians were ninth at
3.77. ... Encarnacion batted .417 with two homers and four RBIs in 2016 ALDS
for Toronto against Texas. ... Bauer, who recently returned from broken leg,
might start Game 4 for Cleveland — but could be used out of the bullpen in the
first three games. He missed more than a month late in season but looked good
in nine innings over three appearances in September and should be ready. He
ended the season ranked second in AL in ERA.
BIG PICTURE
INDIANS:
Cleveland (91-71) waltzed to third straight AL Central title with sights set on
October and possibly ending World Series championship drought dating to 1948 —
longest current streak in majors. ... Indians failed to return to Series last
year, blowing 2-0 lead in Division Series and losing to Yankees. ... Cleveland
might be better prepared than ever for postseason with a superb starting
rotation anchored by Kluber and a lineup strengthened by the late-season
acquisition of Donaldson, the 2015 AL MVP. ... Lindor and Ramirez have been a
dynamic duo again this season, combining for 77 homers, 198 RBIs and 59 steals.
They're the first teammates to each get 80 extra-base hits in consecutive
seasons since Yankees Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig in 1936-37.
... Indians are first team in major league history to have four pitchers reach
at least 200 strikeouts. ... Bullpen was up and down all season, but Miller seems
to be close to pitching like an All-Star again following three trips to
disabled list. Cleveland manager Terry Francona might be able to mix and match
in late innings with Miller, Hand and Allen. ... Donaldson's arrival pushed
Ramirez from third base to second and strengthened infield defense. ... Kipnis
had more time to adjust to playing the outfield after Ramirez's switch.
ASTROS: AL West
champions for second straight year. Houston (103-59) set franchise record for
wins and reached postseason for third time in four years under manager AJ
Hinch. Astros are in playoffs for 12th time. ... Houston went 64-35 in first
half but cooled off in second half (39-24). ... Verlander, Keuchel and Cole all
finished in top 5 in AL in innings pitched. Astros became sixth team to do that
and first since 1970 Orioles, who won World Series. ... Team acquired Osuna and
Pressly before July 31 trade deadline to bolster bullpen. ... Hinch signed
four-year extension in August to keep him under contract with club through
2022. ... Astros had better record on road (57-24) than at home (46-35). ...
Altuve was on disabled list this season for first time in career, sitting out
from July 26 to Aug. 21 with knee injury. ... Verlander led AL with 0.90 WHIP
and was third with .200 opponents' batting average. His 2.52 ERA ranked third
in AL and was his lowest since 2.40 mark in 2011 with Detroit when he won AL
MVP and Cy Young Award. ... Bregman led offense with Correa and Altuve not
performing as well as they have in past. The 24-year-old Bregman set career
highs for homers, RBIs and doubles.
WATCH FOR
— Dynamite or Duds? Lindor and Ramirez make the Indians'
offense goes — or stop. The pair didn't show any flaws last season until
October, when they went a combined 4 for 38 and struck out 13 times against the
Yankees.
— Correa's Back. The top overall pick in the 2012 draft hit
.268 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs in the first half this season but struggled
with a back injury for most of the second half. He missed about six weeks and
hit just .180 with two homers and 16 RBIs in 37 games after the All-Star break.
He said he's feeling better now and hopes he can get back on track in the
postseason.
— Bauer Power. The right-hander's ability to pitch multiple
innings on short rest gives Francona a valuable weapon he won't hesitate to use
against the Astros. Bauer will come out of the bullpen if either Kluber or
Carrasco struggles in the first two games, and there's a chance Bauer could be
used as either the closer or a bridge to the back of the bullpen.
— Morton's Shoulder. The right-hander spent time on the DL
late in season with shoulder discomfort but made two appearances during the
last week and appeared to have regained his velocity. He looked ready for the
playoffs.
— Big Stage. Donaldson battled injuries before Toronto
decided to trade him on Aug. 31 and get something in return before he hit free
agency. The deal rankled other American League contenders, and now Donaldson
has a chance in October to show he's still one of baseball's most dangerous hitters
and perhaps create a lucrative market for himself this winter. He looked good
in limited action at the end of the season, batting .280 with three homers and
seven RBIs in 16 games. In five career postseasons, Donaldson has hit .292 with
four homers and 13 RBIs.
PREDICTION: ASTROS IN
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