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Which MLB contenders should hit panic button?

By Joshua Sadlock

Apr 7, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) reacts as he strikes out and walks back to the bench during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) reacts as he strikes out and walks back to the bench during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians first baseman Edwin Encarnacion against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians first baseman Edwin Encarnacion against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Indians

  • Record: 6-7
  • Culprit: Starting pitching

The Cleveland Indians started the season off with an impressive three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers. Lost in all the excitement of the winning streak was the fact that the starting pitching was knocked around by the Rangers. Since that opening series, the Indians are 2-7, with their starting rotation at the bottom of the heap in all of baseball.

Cleveland’s starting pitchers have posted a 5.97 ERA this year and have taken all seven of the team’s losses. They have allowed opponents to bat .274 with an OPS of .814 and have given up 14 home runs in only 72.1 innings.

Corey Kluber has started the year by giving up five home runs in his first 18.1 innings. Don’t be fooled into believing this is some sort of World Series hangover. Kluber typically starts slow in April, and has a career ERA of 4.32 in the first month of the season. He may have a hard time gripping the baseball and throwing his curveball and cutter in the colder air.

Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin have both been rocked in two starts and are both 0-2. Tomlin has given up 2.68 baserunners per inning so far this season and has an ERA of 18.47. He could be in danger of being dropped from the rotation if this continues. Blessed with great stuff, Bauer appears destined for another year of failing to live up to expectations.

Tribe fans should be giddy about the strong starts to the season for Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco. Both pitchers are coming back from injury-shortened 2016 seasons, and do not appear to be carrying over any ill effects. Salazar has struck out 27 in only 17.2 innings, while Carrasco has a 2.33 ERA.

The Indians offense has been rolling. Francisco Lindor’s meteoric rise to superstardom continues. Jose Ramirez is batting over .360, and Michael Brantley looks like himself as he comes back from a year lost to injuries. Edwin Encarnacion has not even swung the bat well, but the offense is still clicking.

Level of Panic

None. The Indians are still the favorite to win the AL Central. The lineup is dangerous, especially when Encarnacion get his bat going. Andrew Miller and the bullpen continue to dominate, and the starting rotation will figure it out. Cleveland will be a 95-win team or better.

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