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5 reasons the Cleveland Indians can be a sleeper in the Wild Card race

By Nathaniel Reeves

May 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) pitches during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) pitches during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 29, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Corey Kluber is having another ace season

For a defending Cy Young champion, Kluber hasn’t received much fanfare this season. Given his 8-13 record and ERA increase of nearly a full run to 3.41, that doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

However, Kluber has pitched far better than those numbers would indicate, and his statistical dip is largely due to Cleveland’s poor defense behind him. Kluber’s peripherals indicate that he is still pitching at an ace level, which the Indians will need to continue if they are to make up the five-game defect.

Kluber is walking batters at a career-low rate of 4.8 percent while still striking out 27.6 percent of batters he faces. That gives him a FIP of 2.86 and xFIP of 2.96, some of the best marks in the game this season.

That affords Cleveland the advantage of an elite pitcher that few other teams in the A.L. Wild Card race have. The Tampa Bay Rays can match the Indians with Chris Archer, but the Rangers, Angles and Minnesota Twins do not have the luxury of such an ace.

Cleveland will have to get a win every five days with Kluber on the mound if it is going to make the postseason. With the way he’s been pitching all season, Kluber is due for a run of good luck and could make that happen.

Next: The rest of the rotation has enough upside

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