Resurfacing of Kluber's cutter key in shutout By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | 1:15 AM ET CHICAGO -- As warmed up in the on Friday night, Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway noticed the 's did not have its usual bite. Catcher Yan Gomes noticed the same. On a brisk night on Chicago's south side, it was not the sharpest pregame throwing session for Cleveland's ace. "I don't know if he'll like me saying this," Gomes said after Kluber's three- shutout against the White Sox in a 3-0 victory at Guaranteed Rate Field. "It wasn't one of those where you're coming in like, 'He's got it today.' He just turns it on when he steps on the mound." As Kluber heated up, Chicago's bats went cold. During Kluber's outing, the re-emergence of his cutter was critical in piecing together his best performance of this young season. The right- hander relies heavily on a three- mix that had been whittled down to two effective offerings through his first three outings. Kluber has leaned on his signature two-seamer, and kept missing bats with his diving curveball. The cutter -- a pitch that introduces a third-tier of velocity for Kluber -- had mostly been abused by opposing batters. "I got hurt with it a fair amount the first few times , and didn't have a good feel for it," Kluber said. "Tonight, it was better. Obviously, if you can have four pitches working for you instead of three, especially one that you rely on a fair amount, it makes it a little easier." In Kluber's previous three starts combined, opposing hitters posted a 1.375 slugging percentage with an average exit velocity of 94.5 mph against his cutter, according to Statcast™. On Friday night, the White Sox swung and missed at the cutter seven times (the most against any of Kluber's pitches), and put it in play four times with an average exit velocity of 81.6 mph. Overall against the White Sox, Kluber allowed an exit velocity of 82.5 mph, which was down from 86.1 mph in his last start and well below the MLB average of 87.9 mph. "When he has an outing like that, one pitch shows up big," Gomes said. "It's one of those things that, if they start taking, we've got to make an adjustment and start throwing it more over the plate or something. But they weren't, and he kept throwing the [heck] out of it." The end result was an outing in which Kluber looked like himself again. Heading into the start against Chicago, Kluber had an uncharacteristic 6.38 ERA after allowing at least five runs in two of his three turns for the Tribe. He quickly corrected that trend with a nine- showing that included three singles. Only Tim Anderson, who singled in the fourth and advanced to second on a , made it as far as second base Friday. "He threw very, very well obviously," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "Even getting to the ninth , he was still very effective. His ball was moving quite a bit, he was commanding the zone a little bit tonight and that got him through. Tough task ahead of us today, and he did what he needed to do." On the mound, Kluber adjusted to the elements, and to Chicago's approach.

Kluber dominates White Sox in 3-hit shutout By Scott Merkin and Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 1:40 AM ET CHICAGO -- Cleveland's Corey Kluber and the White Sox Jose Quintana rank as the aces of their respective staffs. But their 2017 statistics, albeit from a three-start sample size, didn't exactly support that assessment entering Friday's opener at Guaranteed Rate Field. Both pitched well Friday, but Kluber took it a step beyond during a 3-0 whitewash of the South Siders. Kluber allowed three hits in his complete- game, 110-pitch performance, striking out nine and walking two. Quintana lasted six and 106 pitches, fanning six and walking three while allowing five hits. Kluber faced 29 hitters, two over the minimum. "That's the Corey we love," Indians catcher Yan Gomes said. "Today, he was taking it upon himself and made adjustments on his own and did his thing." Kluber joined Colorado's and Minnesota's Ervin Santana as the only with a shutout this season. The White Sox have been the shutout victims against Santana (one-hitter) and Kluber. "He threw the ball so well and he got some real good defense," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "On a cold night, he got it, he threw strikes and he did a great job. That was really nice to see." Brandon Guyer ultimately was the difference in this contest. Jason Kipnis, playing in his first game of the season after being sidelined by a right shoulder injury, drew a two-out walk in the fourth and scored on Guyer's first home , which came on a 1-0 pitch. Avisail Garcia's streak of 14 consecutive games reaching base to start the season came to an end, and the White Sox lost for the third time in four games. Jacob May finished 0-for-2 with a walk, leaving him at 0-for-26 to start his Major League career. May had a hit taken away by Carlos Santana on a line drive down the first-base line, a hard-hit ground ball Santana turned into a play. "Tough task ahead of us today and he did what he needed to do," said White Sox manager Rick Renteria of Kluber. "Q on the other hand, still kept us in the game, three runs. "Still not as sharp as he likes to be, command wasn't quite what he wanted it to be, but much better today, I thought. Again, three runs through six innings, gave us an opportunity. But you know when you face Kluber, we got to do a little bit more than we did obviously." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Feeling left out: The Indians employ Guyer as a specialist for hitting left-handed pitching, but the outfielder was just 3-for-20 against lefties entering his fourth-inning at-bat against Quintana. Guyer corrected that trend with his first of the season. Per Statcast™, Guyer's two-run shot off Quintana had an exit velocity of 101 mph and marked his first barrel for a hit this year. Guyer hit .336 with a 1.021 OPS against left-handers last season. "We need him to be really dangerous against left-handers," Francona said of Guyer. "The first couple weeks, he hasn't really found his stroke yet. But, man, that's really welcome." Wild run opportunity: The Indians scored their first run against Quintana by virtue of a wild pitch. Austin Jackson, who played for the White Sox last season, raced home from third and beat the tag by catcher Omar Narvaez. Narvaez also couldn't hang on to the ball after it ricocheted back to him perfectly to provide the chance to get Jackson. "It just hit the right part of the backstop," Jackson said. "It hit something hard back there and came back pretty good, but I was already committed. You have to kind of use your baseball instincts. Once you're committed, and you have your mind made up, you try to take advantage." QUOTABLE "It was a lot better than it had been the first few starts. I got hurt with it a fair amount the first few times out, and didn't have a good feel for it. Tonight, it was better. Obviously, if you can have four pitches working for you instead of three, especially one that you rely on a fair amount, it makes it a little easier." --Kluber on his cutter, which generated seven swinging strikes "I'm not frustrated right now. I threw the ball well, I felt good today, and I'll just keep going. Sometimes this happens and I never look back. Every time I try to go ahead and keep going. That's it." -- Quintana on his 0-4 start ABSENCE OF OFFENSE The White Sox have not scored a run over their last 14 innings, dating back to the fifth inning on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. They have scored one run in their last two games. WHAT'S NEXT Indians: Right-hander Carlos Carrasco is scheduled to take the ball for the Indians in a 7:10 p.m. ET tilt against the White Sox on Saturday. In Cleveland's home opener on April 11, Carrasco held Chicago to one run over seven innings, ending with seven and no walks. White Sox: was placed on the 10-day disabled list prior to Friday's contest with the Indians, meaning right-handed veteran Mike Pelfrey will come up from -A Charlotte and take Shields' spot at 6:10 p.m. CT. Pelfrey was 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in two starts since joining the Knights.

Indians activate Kipnis from 10-day DL By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | April 21st, 2017 CHICAGO -- The Indians have started to look more like themselves on the field this week, and now the reigning American League champions are adding a familiar face back into the fold. Prior to Friday's game against the White Sox, Cleveland activated second baseman Jason Kipnis from the 10-day disabled list, following his comeback from a right shoulder injury. The Indians optioned rookie third baseman Yandy Diaz to Triple-A Columbus to clear a spot on the active roster for Kipnis' return. Kipnis was in the lineup's sixth spot, and he got the start at second against Chicago. "Obviously, I'm overcome with excitement right now for getting going," Kipnis said. "These guys are starting to play better baseball right now. You knew it was only a matter of time with the lineup we have, that they were going to get things going." Kipnis -- a two-time All-Star -- strained his right rotator cuff early in , and he was sidelined for most of the preseason while rehabbing the injury. With Kipnis temporarily out of the mix, Cleveland moved Jose Ramirez from third to second base, and it used Diaz at the hot corner. With Kipnis back, Ramirez can back to third base on a regular basis. Under that alignment, and given the Tribe's current crop of outfielders, there is little room for Diaz to continue garnering regular at-bats in the big leagues. The trip to Columbus will allow him to keep playing every day. According to Statcast™, Diaz ranked 15th in the Majors (minimum 25 results) with an average exit velocity of 92.8 mph, entering Friday. In 15 games, however, Diaz hit .236 with a .550 OPS in 55 at-bats. That comes after he won an Opening Day job largely due to hitting .458 in an outstanding showing in the spring. "Everybody here feels that he can be an everyday third baseman, maybe," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Or, maybe an everyday outfielder. The way he swings the bat, I think we saw enough in a short sample size to know that he's going to be a pretty good hitter. And, to his credit, he worked. He did such a good job at third base." Kipnis rejoins the Indians after going 4-for-20 in seven Minor League rehab games between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. In 2016, Kipnis enjoyed arguably his best offensive season in the big leagues. In 156 games, the second baseman hit .275 with career bests in home runs (23) and runs scored (91). Kipnis also piled up 41 doubles, 82 RBIs and 15 steals to go with an .811 OPS.

Carrasco faces familiar, formidable foe in Sox By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | April 21st, 2017 The White Sox had to balance development and need when their rotation was impacted by an injury to James Shields. After weighing its options, Chicago opted to promote veteran Mike Pelfrey to start opposite Indians righty Carlos Carrasco on Saturday at Guaranteed Rate Field. "The thought on Pelfrey being the guy," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn explained, "was we wanted to keep everybody in the rotation in their current spot right now, as opposed to moving anybody up. And in terms of any of our younger players, we didn't want to disrupt their development for what could potential be only one or two, or maybe three times through the rotation." Pelfrey will replace Shields -- on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right lat -- after making a pair of starts for Triple-A Charlotte. After the right-hander was released by the Tigers at the end of Spring Training, he signed by the White Sox and has gone 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in six innings in the Minors. Cleveland will counter with Carrasco, who pitched well against the White Sox on April 11 in the Tribe's home opener. Over seven innings, Carrasco limited Chicago to one run and finished with seven strikeouts and no walks in a no-decision. That performance was one of Carrasco's better outings against the White Sox, who have tormented the righty over his career. Carrasco, who has a 2.33 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings this year, has gone 3-9 with a 5.31 ERA in 18 career games against Chicago. Outfielder Malky Cabrera has hit .313 with two homers and a .915 OPS in 33 plate appearances all-time against the righty. Three things to know: • Among Cleveland's current hitters, Edwin Encarnacion (23 plate appearances) and Carlos Santana (22 plate appearances) have the most career experience against Pelfrey. They have drastically different results. Encarnacion has hit .133 with a .725 OPS, while Santana has hit .333 with an .899 OPS. • The White Sox only had four hits off Carrasco on April 11, but two were extra-base knocks from Todd Frazier. The Chicago third baseman doubled and homered off the Indians starter in Cleveland's 2-1 win at Progressive Field. Frazier returned to the lineup Friday after battling the flu. • Second baseman Jason Kipnis returned from the disabled list on Friday and was sixth in Cleveland's lineup. Manager Terry Francona hinted he might experiment with different lineups against lefties and righties, though, due to Kipnis' strong career production in the top-third of the order.

Lindor reportedly turned down offer this spring By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | April 21st, 2017 CHICAGO -- Francisco Lindor can picture himself signing an extension and wearing an Indians uniform for a long time. Asked about that possibility on Friday afternoon, Cleveland's shortstop flashed the smile that baseball fans have become familiar with during his recent rise to stardom. "Why not?" Lindor said. "Yeah, of course, when the time comes, when the right time comes. Is it the right time now? I don't know. I don't think so. I'm just focusing on playing the game, and whatever's going to happen is going to happen." Prior to Friday's game against the White Sox, Lindor was approached about the topic in the wake of a report indicating that he turned down a lucrative extension offer during Spring Training. Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci reported Thursday that the offer was around $100 million, though the shortstop was not willing to confirm whether that was accurate. Lindor said that offer is "in the past," and his preference now is to focus on the games at hand. The Indians share Lindor's stance on the issue, too. While Cleveland is not entirely opposed to in-season negotiations, the team's prefers to keep contract talks limited to the offseason and Spring Training. There are no indications discussions are ongoing. "To not cause any distractions, I'm focused on the game today," Lindor said. "Once we're in the season, it's all about winning. You guys know me very well. I'm all about winning. I'm all about doing what's right day-in and day-out, focusing on my job. That's what I'm doing right now. I'm focusing on my job." Indians manager Terry Francona was impressed with Lindor's ability to tune out distractions such as the recent report. "He does a good job," Francona said. "He likes to play baseball. And I think he's enjoying some of the other stuff, which he should. But, I think he's got his priorities in pretty good shape." The Indians have the 23-year-old under contractual control through the 2021 season. The shortstop will not be eligible for arbitration until 2019, putting him on target to hit the open market ahead of his age-28 season in '22. Cleveland currently has 10 players on its roster who signed extensions in either their pre-arbitration or arbitration years. It goes without saying that Lindor is a key component to Cleveland's core group. Lindor broke onto the Major League scene in 2015, and was runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year Award voting. Last year, Lindor made his first All-Star team, picked up both Gold and Platinum Glove awards for his defense, and helped the Indians to an AL Central title and World Series berth. The shortstop is off to a blistering start this year. Through 15 games, Lindor has hit .328 with four homers, five doubles, one triple, 10 RBIs, 13 runs and a 1.039 OPS. Lindor could be in for a huge payday down the road. That puts the shortstop in a position where he has to balance the security of a contract extension with the risk of going year-to-year with the hope of reeling in a blockbuster deal. "That's why you make sure you've got the right people around you," Lindor said. "Whether it's teammates, whether it's friends, whether it's family members, whether it's the agency you're with, you've just got to be around good people. That will lead you to success."

Major League Bastian - Medium by Jordan Bastian FIRST: In the hours leading up to Friday’s game, Indians manager Terry Francona met with Jason Kipnis. As promised, the manager wanted to get the second baseman’s input on the lineup. “I admit,” Francona said, “I had a lot of anxiety about it.” The issue is this: Francona really likes the combination of Carlos Santana, Francisco Lindor, Michael Brantley, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Ramirez in the Nos. 1–5 spots. It’s hard to argue with him. But, with Kipnis off the disabled list, something had to give. Or, did it? After talking things over with Kipnis, who has spent the bulk of his career in the top-third of Cleveland’s lineup, Francona opted to slot the second baseman in as the ʋ6 hitter. That is unfamiliar territory for Kipnis and the manager knows it. Francona isn’t entirely thrilled with it, either. “I don’t view Kip as a six-hole hitter,” Francona said. “I think he’s worked really hard and he’s been so productive that he’s a top-of-the-order, middle-of-the-order bat. And I told him that.” Here are Kipnis career starts by lineup position: 1: 178 2: 304 3: 191 4: 19 5: 33 6: 9 (including Friday) 7: 5 8: 10 9: 0 “I have no problem with it,” Kipnis said. “There was really no fight from me at all. He says, ‘Don’t be surprised if it changes,’ too. Right now, I’ve watched every game. I know the guys are going well. I want to be just helping. I don’t want to ruin anything that’s going on.” As far as things changing, Francona hinted that he might toy around with a different lineup for left-handed pitchers and right-handed pitchers. The manager was also quick to note that he is still keeping an eye on Brantley, and now Kipnis, and will look for spots for days off when it makes sense. With the left-handed Jose Quintana on the hill on Friday, Kipnis hit sixth and was followed by Brandon Guyer, Austin Jackson and Yan Gomes. Kipnis went 0-for-3 in his return to the order, but he did draw a walk in the fourth. Guyer then brought Kipnis home with a two-run homer to left. Francona noted that he sent a handful of messages to front-office members, asking for their opinions on the lineup, too. The manager thought it could be fun to see what some of the analytics guys come up with, and to hear their reasoning, even if Francona doesn’t implement it on the field. “Just as a fun exercise, I said, ‘Send me your lineup,’” Francona said. “Then maybe I’ll send back some things that I think are important, like maybe, I don’t know, things maybe that aren’t in numbers. I thought we could have some fun with it.” Francona enjoys brainstorming with Cleveland’s front-office thinkers, especially because of the strong rapport the group has built with the on- field staff. “If you get six or seven opinions,” Francona said, “if somebody says something in that that makes sense, then it was worth it. And I think our group’s good enough where they’re not telling me what to do, which I appreciate.” All things considered, Kipnis said this all boils down to a “good problem” for Francona to deal with right now. “I think so. We’ve got a great lineup,” Kipnis said. “I still have a lot of confidence in myself, no matter where I’m hitting. So, if you’re not seeing me until the sixth hole, I like what our lineup is doing. I’m happy with the way things are going.” SECOND: For all the lineup talk before the game, the Indians didn’t need much in the way of offense on Friday night. That was because Corey Kluber was back in Klubot mode against the White Sox. “That’s the Corey we love,” Gomes said. Kluber spun a three-hit shutout, which featured nine strikeouts and two walks. In a span of nine innings, the right-hander sliced his season ERA to 4.28 from 6.38. This was vintage Kluber, but mostly because his cutter was back from its three-start vacation. In Kluber’s first three outings, opposing batters hit .500 with a 1.375 slugging percentage against his cutter. The average exit velocity on balls in play was 94.5 mph. You don’t need a physics degree to know that’s not great, Bob. Against the White Sox, though, Kluber’s three-pitch mix of -cutter-curve was in full effect. He mixed in four-seamers and a handful of , too. The cutter played a major role. It generated seven swings and misses (most of any pitch) and had an average exit velo of 81.6 mph on the four balls in play. Using the ol’ eye test, it was easy to see that Kluber was creating weak contact. The numbers show just how much he improved in that regard, too. Just look at the opponents’ average exit velocity by start: April 3: 85.2 mph April 9: 85.3 mph April 15: 86.1 mph April 21: 82.4 mph Entering Friday, the MLB average was 87.9 mph, so Kluber’s been above average in that regard all season. When his cutter is on like it was against the White Sox, he can excel in that regard due to the varying levels in pitch speed he can create via his main four-pitch mix (including four-seamers). “If you can have four pitches working for you instead of three,” Kluber said, “especially one that you rely on a fair amount, it makes it a little easier.” THIRD: Heading into Friday’s action, the Indians ranked 18th in the Majors with an 87 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. That’s offensive production that’s 13-percent below league average. One of the reasons behind Cleveland’s early woes against lefty pitching has been the slow start of Guyer. After hitting .336 with a 1.021 OPS against lefties last year, Guyer began this year 3-for-20 against southpaws, leading up to the fourth inning on Friday night. That is when Guyer crushed a pitch from Quintana into the seats in left-center for his two-run home run. “We need him to be really dangerous against left-handers,” Francona said. “The first couple weeks, he hasn’t really found his stroke yet. But, man, that’s really welcome.” HOME: There were some nice defensive plays to back Kluber’s effort and make the handful of runs hold up for the Tribe. Both Francona and Kluber mentioned a pair of gems from Santana. In the third, Santana made a diving stop on a sharp grounder from Jacob May. The first baseman was able to step on first and throw to second to cut down Omar Narvaez for an inning-ending . “He turned it into a double play,” Francona said. “That’s second and third, one out. Or, maybe second with a run in [if he doesn’t make that play].” https://medium.com/media/c04114cab0293e049e931d4c98e2e50d/href In the ninth, Santana reached over the railing on the first-base side to snare a fouled pop fly off the bat of Tim Anderson. Another nice defensive play came in the seventh, when Melky Cabrera singled to deep right field to open the inning (it’s that blue dot in the spray chart above). Cabrera tore around first, but then stutter-stepped before continuing to second. Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall easily threw Cabrera out trying to go for a double. Here’s the thing: Chisenhall took over in right in that half-inning. Guyer had been in that spot for the first six frames. Just speculating here, but when Cabrera stumbled, while quickly looking out to right, it almost appeared like he realized at that moment that it was Chisenhall, and not Guyer. At that point, though, Cabrera was kind of in no-man’s land and had to go. One Indians player after the game agreed that it looked like Cabrera didn’t realize it was Chisenhall in right. Whether or not that was the case, Lonnie made a pinpoint throw, got the out and then summoned his inner Shooter McGavin: On being able to write Jason Kipnis’ name in the lineup, and on Yandy Diaz being sent back to Triple-A: “It was a good feeling [to have Kipnis back]. We can start with Yandy. We talked to Yandy and, one, you worry I think a little bit, like a guy hears he’s going to Triple-A and that’s all they hear. So, we had [assistant hitting coach] Matt Quatraro was in there and [team translator Anna Bolton] was in there. And then we followed up again today a little bit, just because I think we found out a lot about Yandy in a short time. I think everybody here feels that he can be an everyday third baseman maybe, or maybe an everyday outfielder. “The way he swings the bat, I think we saw enough in a short sample size to know that he’s going to be a pretty good hitter. And, to his credit, he worked. He did such a good job at third base that that really didn’t get in the way of us ever winning a game, which I think he deserves a lot of credit for. So we tried to explain to him that you can’t tell everybody that goes down that you think they’re going to be an everyday player. It’s just not realistic. But, I think with a lot of work, he can not only be an everyday player, but an everyday winning player. We tried to drive that home and I think he understands it. Not only with a guy going down, but then with the language barrier, you kind of worry. So, we tried to make sure that he understood.” Will Diaz play third or move around in the Minors? “He’s definitely going to play third. I think we’re trying to figure out what’s best for him. Long-term, he could very well be a third baseman. Short- term, you don’t know, because you don’t know what’s going to happen. So, I think we’re trying to figure out, OK, ‘If something happens maybe to an outfielder.’ We’re trying to balance being fair to him. That’s why we talked to him for so long yesterday, because we wanted to explain that to him, and let him know that it’s going to take a lot of work if that’s the road we take. And I think we definitely want to do that, but he has to be on board or we’re going not going to achieve what we want to.” There was a feeling last year that moving Diaz to the hurt his development at third base. Was that part of the discussion this time around? “Yes. Yeah. One, we want to be respectful of not just throwing a guy around the field. But, it’s kind of a unique skill-set. A third baseman, kind of corner outfielder. He’s pretty athletic. He just hasn’t played it a lot. We’re trying to figure out the right balance and we wanted to include him in the conversation, because I think when you do that the outcome is going to be better. But, I think he understands how much we think of him. I know he didn’t have a ton of RBIs and his batting average didn’t look good, but he probably took more good swings, especially for a kid that’s never been through the league before. There’s a lot of chance that he’s going to be a really good hitter.” Diaz has a great hard-hit ball rate, but put a lot of balls in play on the ground. Is that something he can work on in Minors? “I know there’s a big new push for the launch angle and stuff. I love to see, like Yandy hit the ball hard and he hit the ball hard the other way. For guys to do that, you know how often I say it, you’ve got to be doing a lot of things right to do that. I think with experience and at-bats, I think guys learn what they can get in the air௘²௘things like that. I think if you try to change somebody’s launch angle௘²௘you hear that all the time now௘— ௘I probably have a differing opinion on that than maybe a lot of other people. I think you learn how to hit, and I think Yandy has a really good idea. Experience will [help]. That’s how I feel. I think pull power is the last thing for young players. You might hit one every once in a while, but Yandy, it seemed like every time he went up there he had a chance, because he was using the whole field. I think that that’s just going to get better with experience and things like that. I just think there’s a lot to like in what he does.” On slotting Kipnis in as the sixth hitter: “I admit, I had a lot of anxiety about it, because I don’t view Kip as a six-hole hitter. I think he’s worked really hard and he’s been so productive that he’s a top-of-the-order, middle-of-the-order bat. And I told him that. But, I also told him that the five guys that have been hitting up there, they’ve really done a good job. We still have some moving parts, because he may not play every day right off the bat. We’re kind of keeping an eye on Brantley. So, we kind of walked through it together. And to his credit, he was unbelievably mature. I came away thinking, ‘OK, wow.’ It made my day. I was really proud of him, because I don’t want him to hit sixth, you know? Maybe we’ll come to a version of the lineup, one for left-handers and one for right-handers. Maybe. But, his ability to kind of see the big picture was really impressive. I was really proud of him.” On easing Kipnis back into the everyday mix: “He’s OK. We’re not going to play him 10 days in a row, but we wouldn’t have brought him back if he wasn’t ready. There’s not limitations or anything.” On which players he met with to discuss the lineup with Kipnis back: “Just Kip today. I actually even reached out to some of the [front-office] guys at home and I said, just as a fun exercise, I said, ‘Send me your lineup.’ Then maybe I’ll send back some things that I think are important, like maybe, I don’t know, things maybe that aren’t in numbers. I thought we could have some fun with it, because sometimes, like I don’t want to say stubborn, because I don’t think I’m being stubborn, but if you get six or seven opinions, if somebody says something in that that makes sense, then it was worth it. And I think our group’s good enough where they’re not telling me what to do, which I appreciate. So, I think it might be kind of fun.” On Jose Ramirez moving back to third base: “He’s very [flexible]. I think there’s adjustments. The ball’s coming at a different angle. It’s coming quicker. I don’t think it’s going to take him very long to be just fine. He’s a good defender. I think it’s a lot easier for him going from second to third, as opposed to from left field, because he’s been taking ground balls and things like that. And it hasn’t been that long since he was over there playing every day. But, his ability to be versatile really helps, because if he couldn’t have gone over to play second, then Yandy wouldn’t have played. So, that’s something we really value. We’ve told Josey that, I think when he was signing his contract. It’s something we really value and it can help us.” On Francisco Lindor’s ability to tune out distractions: “We actually talked a little bit about it this spring, just because I kind of thought there was a lot of people coming at him. I wouldn’t say he needed a reminder. Maybe I started to talk to him about it and didn’t really feel like I had to, because I think he’s got his priorities [right]. Sometimes, you see guys getting pulled so many directions and then they come to the ballpark and that’s where you get the short draw, or they’re a little bit edgy, because they’re worn out. Of all places, this is the place you want to be ready. If somebody else is going to get the short end, let it be away from the ballpark. But, I think he does a good job. He likes to play baseball. And I think he’s enjoying some of the other stuff, which he should. But, I think he’s got his priorities in pretty good shape. It’s hard not to in a clubhouse. When everybody knows each other, things kind of take care of themselves in a natural way. It’s probably hard for people to figure it out outside the clubhouse. You better have some thick skin. Things have a way of working out.” Guys in the clubhouse keep teammates in humble? In check? “Yeah. I think it’s good. I think Frankie’s [fine]. And not that we necessarily watch for that, but we kind of keep our radar up. Is a guy coming late? Or is he straggling in and not ready? He’s always one of the first ones here. I think Frankie’s just going to [garner attention], and I don’t blame baseball. They’re talking about him being the face of New Balance and stuff. I think they’re smart for doing that.” “Is it the right time now? I don’t know.” by Jordan Bastian Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated reported on Thursday that Francisco Lindor turned down an extension offer worth around $100 million during Spring Training. Prior to Friday’s game in Chicago, reporters caught up with the shortstop to discuss the possibility of signing long-term with Cleveland. Q: Was Verducci’s report accurate? Lindor: “That’s something that’s in the past. I’m focused on the game today. I think to not cause any distractions, I’m focused on the game today and I’m focusing on what’s going to happen tomorrow. I’m not worrying about what happened in the past.” Q: Are you willing to talk extension during the season? Lindor: “No, no. Once we’re in the season, it’s all about winning. You guys know me very well. I’m all about winning. I’m all about doing what’s right day in and day out, focusing on my job. That’s what I’m doing right now. I’m focusing on my job. As you can see, everybody’s still in the mind-set of winning.” Q: What about the kind of security that type of contract can bring? Lindor: “Security? I’ve got my family. That’s all I need in life. I’ve got my family. Everybody’s healthy and I’m happy. I’m happy where I am and I’m happy with my team. Off the field, I’ve got my family. On the field, I’ve got my teammates. That’s why I know I’ll be fine. I believe in the process. I believe in God and whatever’s going to happen is going to happen.” Q: Do you worry about getting injured before signing a long-term deal? Lindor: “No, man. I think if you bring negative thoughts into your life, that’s something that can affect you. So, I’m focusing on the game tonight. I’m focusing on what I’ve got in front of my toes.” Q: Is it tough to turn down an offer that’s right in front of you, even if you believe a bigger deal might exist down the road? Lindor: “That’s why you make sure you’ve got the right people around you. Whether it’s teammates, whether it’s friends, whether it’s family members, whether it’s the agency you’re with, you’ve just got to be around good people. That will lead you to success. Also, believing in God. I trust God. What’s going to happen is going to happen.” Q: What have you thought of how the Indians have locked up core players like Jose Ramirez, Roberto Perez and others? Lindor: “It’s good. Roberto deserved it. Ramirez deserved it. And the guys that have been going to arbitration and got what they got, they deserved that money. I’m happen for that. They’ll be in the organization for a long time, and so will I. I’ve still got four or five years, I think. I don’t even know how many years I’ve got left. So, I’ll be here for a while with them, too, and I’m happy. I’m happy I get a chance to play with them, not only Roberto and Ramirez, but Brantley, Kippy, Kluber, Carrasco. All of them. They’ll all be here for a while and I’m looking forward to playing the game day in and day out. We’ll see how it plays out.” Q: Can you see yourself signing a long-term deal? Lindor: “Why not? Yeah, of course, when the time comes, when the right time comes. Is it the right time now? I don’t know. I don’t think so. I’m just focusing on playing the game and whatever’s going to happen is going to happen.”

Francisco Lindor turned down Indians’ offer of around $100 million, per report By RYAN LEWIS Published: April 21, 2017 Perhaps Brody Chernoff was on to something. The six-year-old son of Indians general manager Mike Chernoff, Brody was on air with Tom Hamilton when he said in spring training that his dad was trying to lock up shortstop Francisco Lindor for seven more years. It’s possible Brody meant Jose Ramirez, who did sign a contract extension that could keep him in Cleveland for seven years. The Indians, for the most part, just got a good laugh out of it. But per a report by Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci, the Indians were also interested in locking up their superstar shortstop for the foreseeable future as well. Per the report, the Indians put an offer on the table of around $100 million, but Lindor turned it down. The hope was that the two sides could agree to a deal prior to Opening Day, but they couldn’t find enough middle ground. That is likely in part due to Lindor’s top-of-the-charts value and Major League Baseball’s consistent revenue growth, which is only expected to continue. Lindor, still a pre-arbitration player, won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2021 season. He currently stands as one of the most valuable assets in the game and could opt to go year-by-year in arbitration, waiting for what would likely be a massive contract on the free-agent market in his age 28 season. The Indians would likely be aiming to secure Lindor through his arbitration years and one or two of his free-agent years, but the value on the back end could be so high that Lindor and other young stars such as Houston’s Carlos Correa, Chicago’s Kris Bryant and many others might choose to wait before signing lucrative long-term extensions. As Verducci points out in his report, there are enough young stars in the game that an effective market reshaping could take place in the next 4-5 seasons. Last season Lindor amassed 6.3 WAR, per , which was eighth in baseball among position players. He also burst onto the national spotlight during the Indians’ run to the world Series and has become one of baseball’s most marketable stars at 23 years old. The Indians have effectively made signing players to long-term deals prior to being eligible to arbitration their signature. Michael Brantley, Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, Yan Gomes, Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Roberto Perez and Jose Ramirez have all followed that path, agreeing to long-term extensions that include club option years. As Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti explained this spring after announcing Ramirez’s extension, it’s a balance of risk between the player and the club. “It’s an approach that we’ve had for quite a number of years,” Antonetti said. “What we’ve tried to is frame alternatives for players and give them an option to, in some cases, players have chosen to proceed year-to-year and in other cases they have elected to pursue contracts. What we try to do is to frame alternatives for players to choose. Because it’s a question of how do we share risk? .. What we try to do is to come with what type of shared risk makes sense for the team and the player. When there’s alignment on that, that’s when we can reach agreements like this.” It might be a bit harder to share equal risk in Lindor’s case, though. He’ll remain under club control through at least the 2021 season, meaning he likely won’t be going anywhere for quite some time. But for now, per the report, he’ll wait for his big payday. Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 04.22.2017 Francisco Lindor says it's not right time to sign extension with , but it could happen in future Paul Hoynes, on April 21, 2017 at 8:32 PM, updated April 21, 2017 at 8:33 PM CHICAGO -- Francisco Lindor says it's possible he'll sign a multiyear deal with the Indians at some time in the future. Just not now. "Why not," said Lindor before Friday's game against the White Sox. "Yeah, of course. When the right time comes. Is it the right time right now? I don't know. I don't think so. "I'm just focusing on playing the game. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen." In spring training the Indians tried to sign Lindor to an extension. The offer they made the 23-year-old shortstop was "substantial.'' from the team's point of view. Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated reported that it was in the neighborhood of $100 million. Whatever the number, Lindor said no. As for any continued negotiations this year, that's doubtful. The Indians aren't talking deal with Lindor or any other player on their roster. "That's in the past," said Lindor, when asked about the negotiations on an extension. "To not cause any distractions, I'm focused on the game today and what is going to happen tomorrow. I'm not worried about what happened in the past. "I'm all about winning. I'm all about doing what's right day in and day out and focusing on my job. That's what I'm doing right now." Lindor started this season with one year and 113 days of service time. He's still not eligible for arbitration and won't be a free agent until after the 2021 season. By turning down an extension of that size, Lindor is not only betting on himself to continue to play at an All-Star level, but to avoid injury. Regarding securing his future, Lindor said, "I've got my family. That's all I need in life. Everybody is healthy. I'm happy where I am. I'm happy with my team. Off the field I have my family, on the field I have my teammates. I know I'll be fine." Lindor said he is not worried about injury. "No, man, no, no," he said. "If you bring negative thoughts to your life it can affect you." Lindor was the Indians' No.1 pick in 2014. They signed him to a $2.9 signing bonus. He also just signed a contract with New Balance to be the face of their baseball division. So perhaps financial pull is not as strong with him as it might be for other young players. As for weighing the offer the Indians made in spring training compared to what it could be in a year or two, Lindor said he's had help doing the math. "That's when you make sure you have the right people around you - whether it's teammates, friends, family member or the agency you're with," said Lindor. "You've got to be around good people. That will lead you to success. "I also believe in God. I trust God. Whatever happens is going to happen." Dave Meter, Lindor's agent, would not comment when asked about the extension offer from the Indians. Lindor said he's in favor of the Indians' policy of signing their core players to multiyear deals. This spring they signed third baseman Jose Ramirez and catcher Roberto Perez to four-year extensions. "I'm happy for them," said Lindor. "They're going to be in the organization for a long time. So am I. I still have four or five years, I don't even know how many years I have left. So I'll be here for a while with them, too. "I'm happy. I'm happy I not only get to play with them, but with Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis, Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco - all of them. They're all going to be here for a while." Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 04.22.2017 Cleveland Indians activate Jason Kipnis; option Yandy Diaz to Class AAA Columbus Paul Hoynes, on April 21, 2017 at 4:19 PM, updated April 21, 2017 at 7:44 PM CHICAGO -- It took a while, but Jason Kipnis has finally rejoined the Indians. Kipnis, the two-time All-Star second baseman, was activated from the disabled list on Friday in time for the Indians three-game series against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. To make room for Kipnis, third baseman Yandy Diaz was optioned to Columbus. Manager Terry Francona inserted Kipnis into Friday night's lineup, hitting sixth. With Kipnis returning to second base, Jose Ramirez will return to third base. When the Indians started the season with Kipnis on the disabled list because of a strained right rotator cuff, Ramirez moved from third to second and Diaz played third. The shoulder injury limited Kipnis to just five at-bats in spring training. He appeared in seven rehab games with Columbus and Class AA Akron, hitting .200 (4-for-20) with two doubles and an RBI. His rehab was interrupted when he was hit on the left hand by a pitch at Akron and didn't play for a couple of days. Diaz, 25, kept his nose above water in his first taste of the big leagues. He played a solid third base, while hitting .236 (13-for-55) with two RBI. He started 15 straight games at third for the Indians after making the club out of spring training by hitting .458. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 04.22.2017 P Triston McKenzie impressive for Lynchburg Hillcats: Cleveland Indians Minor Leagues By Branson Wright, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Starter Triston McKenzie has been impressive in his first three starts for the Cleveland Indians Class A Lynchburg Hillcats. McKenzie, No. 3 prospect in the Indians system, is 2-1 with a 1.72 ERA, 18 strikeouts, four walks and 12 hits allowed in 15.2 innings pitched. In his most recent start, McKenzie allowed three hits, two walks and had eight strikeouts on 84 pitches. He did this against Carolina (Milwaukee Brewers) with a lineup that featured four of their top prospects. The Tribe selected McKenzie, 19, with their second pick in the 2016 draft out of Royal Palm Beach High School in West Palm, Fla. McKenzie is 6-5 and under 170 pounds. Despite his slim stature, he throws in the mid 90s. He has solid curveball and change-up. More pitching: Thomas Pannone (1-0, 0.00) earned his first victory of the season in the first game of a on Tuesday night. He went 5 2/3 innings, holding Carolina to just one hit while striking out six. So far this season, Pannone has limited opponents to .060 hitting. He has 22 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings to begin the year. Hitters: Sicnarf Lookstok leads the team with a .343 average. He has four multi-hit games. ... Catcher Martin Cervenka is hitting .308 and he has multiple hits in five of the Hillcats first nine games. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 04.22.2017 Chu starts hot for Lake County Captains: Cleveland Indians Minor Leagues Elton Alexander, on April 21, 2017 at 1:43 PM, updated April 21, 2017 at 1:45 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One position where the Cleveland Indians seem set in their minor league system is catcher and Li-Jen Chu of the Lake County Captains is the latest example. Chu, 23, is hitting .357 at this early point of the season. The undrafted free agent (2012) from Taiwan fits the Tribe profile of short and stocky (5-11, 200 pounds) yet carrying a big stick. Along with his team-leading batting average, Chu has hit a pair of homers to help account for his eight RBI, and has 10 strikeouts and seven walks. He played 26 games at Lake County last season and hit .245 with one homer. In the clutch: Outfielder Todd Isaacs, 20, has not hit his stride yet, but the 19th round (2015) pick is one player to keep an eye on. A native of the Bahamas who grew up in Florida, Isaacs shares the team lead in RBI with eight, even as he is only hitting .244. His only extra base hits are a pair of homers and he has only walked three times in 11 games and 41 at-bats. He also has seven stolen bases. Big bopper: Outfielder Jose Medina, 22, has three homers and three doubles in nine games. He's another free agent (2013), signed out of the Dominican Republic. At 6-1, 185, Medina is starting to fill out his frame. He had a big game against Lansing last weekend with five RBI, going 4-for-5 and hitting all three of his homers. Just in time: Lefthander Ben Krauth, 23, is the team leader with three wins, although he has only pitched 8.1 innings over three games. He has 12 strikeouts. Krauth is another late-round pick (16/2016) who pitched for the Kansas Jayhawks. Former No. 1 draft pick Brady Aiken is 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in his two starts. The lefthander has allowed 10 hits and 10 walks while striking out eight. Captains log: The Captains have won five straight and are 8-5 going into the weekend, even as only Chu is hitting above .300. However, after 13 games, 11 players have RBIs and seven players have five or more. The Captains have the second fewest strikeouts in the league (106) even though they are hitting .242 as a team. They have the second most stolen bases (17) and a respectable 43 walks. Lake County is one of six teams among the 16 in the Midwest League with a team ERA below 3.00, standing a 2.90, allowing 98 hits and 43 runs. Shane Bieber has been the team leader with a 2-1 record over 16.2 innings and a 2.16 ERA. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 04.22.2017 Cleveland Indians games are taking an eternity, but this isn't some MLB crisis: Zack Meisel Zack Meisel, on April 21, 2017 at 10:00 AM, updated April 21, 2017 at 3:40 PM LEVELAND, Ohio -- Edwin Encarnacion positioned his cleats in the dirt near home plate. Anibal Sanchez stared at his catcher, waiting for the preferred flashing of fingers. . Ball one. Sanchez again peered at James McCann. Then, the pitcher tossed the ball to first base to keep tabs on Francisco Lindor. Sanchez returned to the rubber. Then he stepped off. Then he returned to the rubber. Fastball. Fouled off. Sanchez's third pitch sailed up and in and Encarnacion tumbled to the dirt to avoid earning a bruise. He exited the batter's box, adjusted his uniform and refocused. Curveball. Swing and a miss. Encarnacion again left the batter's box -- that's technically against league rules these days -- to gather himself or think about what pitch might come next or do whatever it is that convinces a hitter to pace around home plate instead of just standing beside it. Fastball. Ball three. Sanchez agreed with McCann's final suggestion. Curveball. Low. McCann fired the ball to second to try to nab Lindor, who was running on the pitch. Lindor was ruled . McCann then checked with the first-base umpire to see if Encarnacion offered at the . He didn't. Encarnacion finally trotted to first base after a six-pitch walk that took three minutes and 37 seconds to complete. That took place during the eighth inning of the Indians' 13-6 victory against the Tigers last weekend, a game that required three hours and 36 minutes to finish. The Tribe's 6-2 triumph against the Twins on Thursday occupied the same length of time. They played a four-hour, nine-inning affair against Detroit last Friday. The Indians are averaging 3:22 per game this season. So, in the time it takes you to read this article, you might miss two or three pitches. Seventy seconds elapsed between Sanchez's first and second tosses to Encarnacion, after all. Last season, the average MLB game lasted a few minutes past the three-hour mark. The pace-of-play debate has been covered ad nauseam. You either don't mind the clock-less tradition of the sport, or you want games shortened to seven innings, every inning to begin with the bases loaded and players to cruise around the bases in a DeLorean. Starting a runner at second? Bad idea I don't plan on penning an angry letter to the commissioner's office about having to sit through these nightly marathons. More than anything, the lengths of Indians games have enlightened me on how much dead time could easily be eliminated. I'm a believer that it isn't the that's the issue; it's the frequency of gripping action. No one whined 15-20 years ago when games took just as long or longer, but players belted home runs every five minutes. We're in another homer happy era, but it's also the glory days of the walk and the strikeout, so a lot of action is countered with a lack thereof. The stepping off and stepping out -- that stuff can be trimmed. The agonizing time between pitches -- that can be limited. The new intentional walk rule doesn't really make a difference, but I suppose it doesn't hurt. A is probably coming at some point. The encounter between Encarnacion and Sanchez illustrates why some are up in arms about the deliberate pace of many games. But this isn't some national crisis that some make it out to be each spring. The game doesn't need some monumental foundation shift. That said, the Indians' contests -- hold on, have to sneeze -- have taken up -- wait, I'm out of tissues. What did I do with that one that I had put in my pocket? -- quite a bit of -- did I make that point I wanted to make a few paragraphs above? -- time so far -- oh, no; another sneeze coming on. Spring allergies, you own me -- this season. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 04.22.2017 Francisco Mejia streaking for Akron RubberDucks: Cleveland Indians Minor Leagues Elton Alexander, on April 21, 2017 at 9:44 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's been a rough start (4-9) for the Akron RubberDucks, but the Cleveland Indians Class AA team still has a lot of time to climb out of the Eastern League basement. There's too much talent not to, led by one of the least talked about prospects in the system, infielder Tyler Kreiger, and the ultimate hit machine, Francisco Mejia. A 12-1 victory over Reading this week was indicative of what this team can do. Mejia and Kreiger are off the strong starts. Pitching and defense are the early culprits as the RubberDucks have allowed five or more runs seven times, including a season-high 13 on opening night. This weekend the Ducks begin a six-game homestand at Canal Park to try and start flipping the script. They will have several promotions as well. The hit machine: Mejia, 21, is hitting .368, showing the step up from Class A is not a huge obstacle for him. He already has a team-leading 14 hits with half of those being doubles. He hit .342 last season splitting time between Lake County and Lynchburg, so the start this season is no surprise for the undrafted free agent (2012) from the Dominican Republic. Mejia's .342 average in 2016 included the 50-game hitting streak that began in Lake County and ended in Lynchburg. Picking up where he left off, Mejia has started this season with an 11-game hitting streak. The hit machine II: Compared to Mejia, there is not a lot of conversation about Kreiger, 23, but the 6-2, 175-pound infielder has put together solid numbers since being drafted (4/2015) out of Clemson. After missing the 2015 season with a shoulder injury, Kreiger hit a combined .299 last year at Lake County and Lynchburg, even after fading a bit down the stretch. He is currently hitting .419 with 13 hits in 31 at-bats with the Ducks. He has four doubles, a homer and five RBI. Kreiger has already picked up one Eastern League Player of the Week honor. He is on a four-game hitting streak. : Outfielder Greg Allen, 24, has stolen five bases in 13 games while hitting a productive .289 from the leadoff spot. He has scored 10 runs with three doubles and has not been yet. Allen (6/2014), from San Diego and San Diego State, has had at least one hit in eight of his last 10 games and has all five of his stolen bases in the last 10 games. He starts the homestead on a four-game hitting streak. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 04.22.2017 Mike Clevinger, Chris Narveson start hot for Columbus Clippers: Cleveland Indians Minor Leagues Branson Wright, on April 21, 2017 at 9:02 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Starting pitchers Mike Clevinger and Chris Narveson are off to solid starts for the Columbus Clippers, the Cleveland Indians Class AAA affiliate. The two have combined for an 0.83 ERA (32.2 innings, 19 hits, 5 runs, 3 earned runs, 8 walks and 30 strikeouts) through their first five games. In three starts, Clevinger (2-0, 0.47 ERA) has allowed only one earned run in 19 innings. In his latest outing on Sunday, he allowed three hits, one walk and struck out eight in six innings. Clevinger pitched in 53 innings with the Tribe last season. He finished 3-3 with a 5.26 ERA. Narveson has only given up two earned runs over 13.2 innings. On the other end of the spectrum, starters Ryan Merritt, Adam Plutko and Shawn Morimando have struggled. The three pitchers combined have a 7.52 ERA (32.1 innings, 45 hits, 27 runs, 20 walks and 24 strikeouts. Morimando, 24, is 0-3 with a 9.20 ERA. Plutko is 0-2 with an 11.91 ERA. Merritt is 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA. Walking tall: Giovanny Urshela walked twice last Friday and has now walked eight times this season, including one intentional. Urshela drew just 15 walks all of last season. Early success: Through first 13 days of the season, the Clippers are the only team in the International League to have a winning record and a negative run differential (-5). The Clippers are also nearly on the wrong end of the hit margin (even), sitting as the only winning team without more hits than it's given up. As for homers, the Clippers (+5) are tied for 2nd behind Rochester (+6). Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 04.22.2017 Shortstop Francisco Lindor turned down 'substantial' extension offer from Cleveland Indians, but was it worth $100 million? Paul Hoynes, CHICAGO -- The Indians did try to sign Gold Glove shortstop Francisco Lindor to a contract extension before opening day, but it's unclear how much the extension was worth. Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated reported that the extension the Indians offered Lindor, 23, was in the neighborhood of $100 million. While cleveland.com has not confirmed the amount, it is known that the Indians made Lindor, who went to the All-Star Game last year in his first full season in the big leagues, a 'substantial' offer. Currently there are no active negotiations between Lindor and the Indians. Dave Meter, Lindor's agent, would not comment when asked about the amount of the extension offer. The Indians have a history of signing young players to mulityear deals to avoid the arbitration process and have stability in their payroll. Lindor started this season with just one year and 113 days in the big leagues. He won't be eligible for free agency until after he has six full years of service time. In spring training the Indians signed Jose Ramirez to a four-year, $26 million deal and Roberto Perez to a four-year, $9 million deal. This year Lindor will make $579,000, just above the major-league minimum. He's hitting .328 with four homers and 10 RBI. In Thursday's 6-2 win over the Twins, Lindor's career-high 12 game hitting streak was stopped. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 04.22.2017 Cleveland Indians' Corey Kluber blanks Chicago White Sox, 3-0, on three-hitter Paul Hoynes, CHICAGO -- Left-hander Jose Quintana has made a living out of making the Indians miserable whenever they've faced him. Friday night at frigid Guaranteed Rate Field such was not the case. Not to say Quintana didn't pitch well, he just didn't pitch well enough to beat Corey Kluber. Kluber threw a three-hit shutout and Brandon Guyer hit a two-run homer as the Indians beat the White Sox, 3-0, for their fourth straight win. In his last three starts against Chicago, Kluber is 3-0 with 0.81 ERA (two earned runs in 22 1/3 innings) and 25 strikeouts. On Friday, he struck out nine and walked two to win his second straight start. Kluber (2-1, 4.28) is 7-4 lifetime against the White Sox. It was his third shutout in the last two seasons and the fourth of his career. "That was so nice to see," said manager Terry Francona. "He threw the ball so well and he got some real good defense behind him. Carlos Santana made a nice play at first base and turned it into a double play (third inning). Then he reached into the dugout for that pop up (ninth inning)." Quintana (0-4, 6.17), finally out of Chris Sale's shadow in Chicago, was 7-3 with a 2.53 ERA in his career against the Indians before Friday. He's 7-4 today, but the left-hander has 10 straight quality starts against the Tribe. The White Sox never seriously threatened Kluber. Tim Anderson singled to start the fourth and took second on a wild pitch, but Kluber struck out Melky Cabrera and retired Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier on fly balls to right. It was the only time Chicago advanced a runner past first. Chicago's three hits were all singles. Kluber said he had a good feel for his cut fastball Friday. The pitch had a lot of late movement and he threw it throughout the game. "It was a lot better than it was in my first few starts," said Kluber. "I got hurt with it a fair amount the first few times out because I didn't have a good feel for it. It's better to have four pitches working for you instead of three." The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the third when Austin Jackson, the former White Sox, doubled to start the inning. He went to third on a by Yan Gomes and scored on Quintana's wild pitch. The ball hit the backstop and bounced back to catcher Omar Narvaez to make the play closer than it should have been. "The ball got by him but hit the right part of the backstop and came back too him," said Jackson. "But I was already committed." In the fourth, the Tribe made it 3-0 on Guyer's first homer of the year. After Jason Kipnis walked with one out, Guyer homered to left center. Guyer came into the game hitting .378 (7-for-18) with one homer and two RBI against Quintana. "We need Guyer to be really dangerous against left-handers," said Francona. "The first couple of weeks he hasn't found his stroke yet, but that is really welcomed." What it means The Indians are 4-0 on this six-game trip and 7-3 on the road this season. The pitches Kluber threw 110 pitches, 73 (66 percent) for strikes. Quintana threw 106 pitches, 60 (56 percent) for strikes. Rare sight Michael Brantley was thrown out attempting to steal second base in the sixth inning. Since 2014, Brantley has stolen 41 bases in 44 attempts. He is 2-for-3 this season. Good D Lonnie Chisenhall, who pinch hit for Guyer in the seventh, replaced him in right field in the bottom of the inning. Cabrera started the seventh with a shot to the fence in right, but Chisenhall cut him down on a strong throw to second. In the third, Santana made a diving stop of Jacob May's hard grounder at first. He tagged the bag and threw to Francisco Lindor at second, who tagged out Narvaez for a double play. Santana, with one out in the ninth, reached into the Tribe's dugout to a foul pop by Anderson. Thanks for coming The Indians and White Sox drew 18,159 fans to Guaranteed Rate Field on a cold Friday night. First pitch was st 8:11 with a temperature of 48 degrees. Next Right-hander Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 2.33) will face RHP Mike Pelfrey on Saturday at 7:10 p.m. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM/1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the game. Carrasco held the White Sox to one run on four hits over seven innings in the Tribe's home opener on April 11. He was not involved in the decision as the Indians beat the White Sox, 2-1 in 10 innings. Right-hander James Shields was scheduled to pitch for Chicago, but he was placed on the disabled list Friday with a strained right lat muscle. The White Sox purchased the contract of veteran right-hander Mike Pelfrey from Class AAA Charlotte to make Saturday's start. Carrasco is 3-9 with a 5.31 ERA in his career against the White Sox. Pelfrey is 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA in nine games, including eight starts, against the Indians in his career. He was 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in two starts at Charlotte. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 04.22.2017 Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis has no problem hitting in sixth in Terry Francona's lineup Paul Hoynes, on April 21, 2017 at 9:48 PM, updated April 21, 2017 at 10:33 PM CHICAGO - Terry Francona doesn't think Jason Kipnis is a No. 6 hitter. The Indians manager actually looked upset about having to place Kipnis that low in his lineup Friday night against the White Sox. Kipnis made over 150 starts in the No.2 spot last year, but Friday was his first game this season after opening the year on the disabled list with a strained right rotator cuff. In the time Kipnis missed, the top five hitters in the lineup - Carlos Santana, Francisco Lindor, Michael Brantley, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Ramirez - have done a solid job. Still, this was not an easy decision. "I admit I had a lot of anxiety about it," said Francona. "I don't view Kip as a six-hole hitter. I think he's worked really hard, and he's so productive, that he's a top-of-the-order, middle-of-the-order bat. I told him that, but I also told him that the five guys we have up there have done a really good job." Still, lineups change and that was Francona's message. Kipnis, fresh off the disabled list, isn't going to play every day and the Indians are still being careful with Brantley and his right shoulder. "We still have some moving parts," said Francona. "We walked through it together. He was unbelievably mature. I came away thinking, 'Wow, he made my day.'" Francona added that where Kipnis hits could depend on whether the Indians face a right or left-handed starter. Kipnis, with 16 starts in the No.6 spot in his career, said he was just happy to be back with his teammates after spending most of the last two months rehabbing his shoulder. "I'm overcome with excitement right now because I'm getting going," said Kipnis. "These guys are starting to play better baseball right now. You knew it was only a matter of time with our lineup that they'd get going. It's the same thing with our pitching staff. I'm just glad to chip in." Kipnis said he shoulder feels strong and that he has a lot of confidence in it. As for hitting sixth, he said, "I've got no problem with it. There was no fight from me at all. He said don't be surprised if it changes, too. I've watched every game. I know the guys are going well. I just want to help. I don't want to ruin anything that's going on. "We've got a great lineup. I still have a lot of confidence in myself no matter where I'm hitting. If you're not seeing me until the sixth hole, I like what our lineup is doing." Third baseman Yandy Diaz was optioned to Class AAA Columbus to make room for Kipnis. Diaz, a rookie, started 15 straight games at third base and played solid defense. He hit .236 (13-for-55) with two RBI. The Indians told Diaz he was going down after Thursday's 6-2 win over the Twins at Target Field. They talked to him again on Friday before he left for Columbus. "I think we found out a lot about Yandy in a short time," said Francona. "I think everybody here feels he can be an everyday third baseman, maybe an everyday outfielder. The way he swings the bat, I think we saw enough in a short sample size, that he's going to be a pretty good hitter." Francona said Diaz will play third and the outfield at Columbus. "You can't tell everyone that goes down that he can be an everyday player - it's just not realistic," said Francona. "But with a lot of work, Yandy can not only be an everyday player, but an everyday winning player. We tried to drive that home to him." Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 04.22.2017

RubberDucks defeat Altoona Curve at Canal Park, 3-2 The hits were ever in the RubberDucks’ favor Friday. Even when they didn’t come off their bats.

The Ducks won for the third time in four games by scoring the tying and go-ahead runs in the sixth inning against the Altoona Curve in a 3-2 win without putting the ball in play.

The inning started out innocently enough with a Francisco Mejia walk and Bobby Bradley to right.

By the time it was over, Tanner Anderson (1-1) picked up his first loss.

Yu-Cheng Chang and Mike Papi flew out to left and the right-hander looked like he was about to get out of the inning unscathed. But then the three-year veteran didn’t beat the pitch timer to the plate on a three-ball pitch to Dorssys Paulino, turning the plate appearance to a walk. Anderson got the hook with the bases loaded in favor of Miguel Rosario, who walked Todd Hankins on four pitches to tie things up.

Rosario followed up the walk by hitting Yhoxian Medina on an 0-2 pitch, and the Ducks (5-9) opened the three-game series at Canal Park with a win.

“It was a good pitching matchup for both sides really,” Ducks manager Mark Budzinski said. “Both gave their teams a chance to win, but we did a really good job of pecking away and getting hits with runners in , and then the walks there when they brought the reliever in was the difference.”

The win was poetic justice against a team that swept three straight from the Ducks last weekend even if the Curve (9-5) made things interesting by stranding Chase Simpson at third after he doubled to lead off the ninth.

“It’s not like we were playing bad at the beginning [of the season],” Nick Pasquale said. “We just couldn’t make that one pitch, get that one hit, or make that one play to put it all together. Now, good pitching, timely hitting and good defense has been meshing together well.”

Pasquale was fantastic in his first win of the season after two no-decision showings.

The right-hander went six innings of five-hit ball, walked two and struck out four. The only real hard-hit ball Pasquale gave up was a Simpson home run that reached the big slide in right field.

“I was happy we got the runs for him [in the sixth] because that was going to be it for him,” Budzinski said. “He deserved to win tonight. He pitched really well. He mixed in his breaking ball when he had to and the fastball had some life to it. It was a very good outing for him.”

Roster move

Neil Holland was promoted to the Ducks. A free agent signee in the offseason, Holland, 28, recorded one save in four relief appearances for Class A Lynchburg after spending six seasons in the Washington Nationals organization. Left-hander Rob Kaminsky (left arm soreness) was placed on the seven-day disabled list.

Next up

Game 2 of the three-game set at Canal Park starts at 2:05 p.m.The RubberDucks will start lefty Luis Lugo (1-1, 3.09) against right-hander Yeudy Garcia (0-1, 9.64).

Corey Kluber’s dominance on display, yes, even in April by T.J. Zuppe, posted minutes ago Notes, quotes and observations from the 3-0 win over the White Sox on Friday. Like clockwork Every year. Same song. Same dance. Corey Kluber is no stranger to starting a season with his worst month of production in any given year — April — but it never seems to slow the flow of inquiries on a nightly basis during his first few starts? What’s wrong with Kluber? Our Twitter feeds start to collect these sorts of questions like they were trading cards, but ones with no value or significance. Why? Because the answer never changes. What’s wrong with him? Absolutely nothing. The Indians’ ace slammed the door Friday on his first complete-game shutout of the season, allowing just three hits, walking two and striking out nine. Kluber made excellent use of the 110 pitches he needed, recording 73 strikes and inducing nine ground outs and three fly outs. And as for any concern about his 6.38 ERA in his first three starts? Poof. Gone faster than Brandon Guyer’s key two-run home run off White Sox starter Jose Quintana in the top of the fourth inning. For whatever reason, we’ve seen this trend since Kluber’s Cy Young season of 2014. It’s a pattern that has repeated for four years, with the righty needing a handful of starts before truly finding the sort of rhythm associated with his typical dominance. x April 2014: six starts, 4.14 ERA, 35 strikeouts, 37 innings x April 2015: five starts, 4.24 ERA, 36 strikeouts, 34 innings x April 2016: five starts, 4.24 ERA, 35 strikeouts, 34 innings Kluber’s shutout of the White Sox lowered his earned run average to 4.28 with 27 strikeouts over 27 1/3 frames, seeming to follow a near identical early-season arc. Whether it comes down to needing a few outings to refine his mechanics, the adjustment associated with the shift from the thin air of Arizona to the cold weather tied to April — or something else completely — we’ve at least seen enough of a sample size to know to expect these sorts of trends. Pitch mix On Friday, Kluber recorded seven swings-and-missed with his cutter, six with his breaking ball, and one each on his four-seamer, two-seamer and change-up. The contact he did allow Friday — the White Sox put 18 balls in play — was feeble, with an average exit velocity of 82.4 mph. Of the five pitch types he offered, his breaking ball (75 mph), change-up (76.6 mph) and four-seamer (76.8 mph) induced the lowest exit velocity, with his cutter also operating at an above average level (81.6 mph). Weak contact combined with the whiff total backs up what the eyes saw — a total domination by the Tribe’s ace and an excellent reason to put away any concerns until next April. Back again Jason Kipnis hadn’t started in a batting slot lower than third since 2014, but the improved depth of the Indians’ lineup coupled with his return from a rehab assignment and activation from the disabled list led to a return to the six spot in his season debut. Certainly, Kipnis isn’t your typical six hitter, but with Carlos Santana and Francisco Lindor nestled nicely in to the top two slots, Michael Brantley working to find some consistency in the three spot, and Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Ramirez tucked in the fourth and fifth slot, Kipnis’ batting position might be a bit of a work-in-progress. Kipnis went hitless in his first regular-season action since missing nearly all of spring training with a shoulder issue, but Friday was anything but a failure. He reached on a walk and managed to see 28 pitches in his debut, a huge positive for a player without the early-season repetition others have been slowly building. His most impressive battle came in the top of the second, when he fouled off five Quintana offerings and worked the full before eventually popping out to third baseman Todd Frazier after the 11-pitch sequence. Tough break The undesired casualty of Kipnis’ return was Yandy Diaz, who was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the roster. The Indians believe playing every day in the minors is better for Diaz’s development. There’s certainly some validity to that. The average wasn’t there for Diaz in his first big-league stint (.238), but he was 16th in baseball in average exit velocity (92.8 mph), meaning he ran into a number of hard-hit balls right at defenders. He also ranked lowest of any qualified hitter in pull percentage (19 percent), and perhaps an ability to drive more balls to left field is something for Diaz to continue developing at Triple-A Columbus. The plate discipline is certainly evident, and his hard-contact rate suggests there’s a lot to like. A few tweaks in approach — something that requires everyday at-bats to hone — might unlock even more of his tremendous offensive potential. Outfield weapon Lonnie Chisenhall’s arm, from the minute he transitioned to the outfield, immediately became an asset for the former third baseman. In addition to just being strong, manager Terry Francona believes Chisenhall does a tremendous job getting himself in position to make good throws by getting behind fly balls and giving himself a good base to launch from. “For a guy that hasn’t been very experienced in the outfield, that’s been one of the things that’s been a little bit surprising, is his ability to get behind the ball,” Francona recently said. “That’s one of the hardest things I think for guys that haven’t been out there … Lonnie’s been so good about, from the very first day in Oakland, getting behind that ball and making tougher plays easier. And then also being ready to throw.” Chisenhall also possesses one of the fastest transfer times in the Indians’ outfield, which lends itself to quick releases and a better overall control of runners attempting to take an extra base. Melky Cabrera was a victim of the strong-armed outfielder, as he was cut down trying to stretch a ball over Chisenhall’s head in right field into a double. The out was the first in the bottom of the seventh and helped Kluber preserve his shutout, the fourth of his career. On deck The Indians will look to extend their winning streak to five games Saturday, as Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 2.33) will go against righty Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey took the spot of James Shields, who was recently placed on the 10-day disabled list. First pitch in Chicago is set for 7:10 p.m.

Shields lands on DL, White Sox aren't rushing any young replacement starters Scot Gregor In seasons past, the Chicago White Sox would have rushed a promising prospect to the major leagues to plug a hole opened by injury. That's just how the Sox rolled, and the strategy rarely worked. General manager Rick Hahn promised that the White Sox's revamped farm system would be given proper time to develop this season and likely beyond, and his actions matched his words on Friday. Just before first pitch between the Sox and Cleveland Indians, Saturday's scheduled starting pitcher James Shields landed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right lat. The Sox could have called on Reynaldo Lopez, Lucas Giolito or Carson Fulmer from Class AAA Charlotte, or they could have dipped down another level and summoned hard-throwing Michael Kopech from AA Birmingham. Instead, veteran Mike Pelfrey is coming up from Charlotte to replace Shields, who is 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA through 3 starts with the White Sox. Signed to a minor-league deal in early April after being released by Detroit, Pelfrey is 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in 2 starts with Charlotte. The White Sox are hoping Shields only misses a few turns, so Pelfrey's stay is likely to be short. "From the start, we talked about when these guys (Lopez, Giolito, Fulmer, Kopech) do get to Chicago for that last stage of development that happens in the big leagues, we want them to feel comfortable they will get the ball every fifth day," Hahn said. "It's not going to be snatched away from them because someone is coming off the DL or their performance isn't up to snuff in any individual start. "That's the ideal path. You can't always follow through on those plans in the end, but right now we are going to do everything in our power to make sure when any of the prospects get promoted, they will be here to stay." The early numbers indicate the White Sox's top young arms need more seasoning. At Triple-A, Lopez is 0-1 with a 5.02 ERA. Giolito is 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA. Fulmer is 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA. At Double-A, Kopech is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA. Another young starter, 23-year-old Tyler Danish, is 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in 3 starts for Charlotte, but the right-handed pitched Thursday. "We absolutely thought about Tyler," Hahn said. "He has pitched fantastic down there and Tyler deserves an opportunity to pitch at the big- league level. Had this happened on a different time frame then perhaps Danish would have been the guy. Based on how everyone lines up down there now and this potentially being a temporary spot, it made more sense to go with Mike." Pelfrey, 33, was cut by the Tigers late in spring training despite being owed $8 million this season. He was 4-10 with a 5.07 ERA for Detroit last year. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 04.22.2017 Todd Frazier returns to White Sox, but James Shields heads to DL

Paul Skrbina

Todd Frazier has washed his hands of being sick. And now he's sick of washing his hands. "I feel like … Howie Mandel — like he has to stay clean," Frazier joked before Friday night's game against the Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field. "I'm like 'Oh, my God, I'm starting to get like that.' "My hands are dry as can be right now. I feel like I'm overwashing them." The White Sox third baseman said he lost 10 pounds — which he since has gained back — and portions of his sanity while the flu kept him off the field for 6 1/2 of the team's last eight games, including the last four in a row. He was back in the lineup Friday, trying to improve on his .111 batting average and his health. A strained left oblique sidelined him for part of spring training. In January he wore a splint to protect a sprained left index finger he thinks he injured last season. He said he suspected he caught the flu from his two young children. "Hopefully it's smooth sailing from here," Frazier said. "Right now hopefully I'm clear. I just have to stay away from my kids and my wife. Then we'll be all right." No sooner did Frazier return Friday did right-handed starter James Shields go absent. The White Sox put the 35-year-old on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday, with a strained right lat. Shields, whose struggles last season have been well documented, is 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA and 16 strikeouts in three starts in 2017. General manager Rick Hahn said the Sox expect Shields to miss up to that many turns through the rotation, the first of which will be Saturday against the Indians. Hahn said an MRI performed Friday suggested the strain was mild. Shields felt discomfort in his last start, April 16 against the Twins. "There's no reason for me to believe right now that he won't be able to pick up where he left off once he comes off the DL," Hahn said. Right-hander Mike Pelfrey will start in Shields' place Saturday. The Sox signed Pelfrey, an 11-year veteran, to a minor-league deal earlier this month. He was 4-10 with a 5.07 ERA and a 5.15 FIP last year for the Tigers while striking out 56 and walking 46 in 119 innings. "We wanted to keep everybody in the rotation in their current spot," Hahn said. "In terms of any of our younger players, we didn't want to disrupt their development for what could be one or two or maybe three times through the rotation" While Frazier was down and while Shields is out, the return of left-hander Carlos Rodon from bursitis in his left shoulder remains a mystery. Rodon will return to Chicago on Sunday, Hahn said, not to take the mound but to keep his appointment with a White Sox team doctor. Rodon has been on the disabled list since before the season. "Until we have him pitching in games and on a rehab assignment, it's impossible for me to give you a time-frame on when he might be back," Hahn said. As for Frazier, who had one home run and four RBIs going into Friday, he's going to stick to his chicken diet and his sense of humor. "He's back to normal, all the way around, joking and everything that he is," Sox manager Rick Renteria said. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.22.2017 1063236 Chicago White Sox

Corey Kluber stifles White Sox in complete game as Indians win 3-0

Paul Skrbina

Jose Quintana was locked in Friday. His head engulfed in a black hoodie, which cloaked his thoughts and his black Beats headphones as he sat in front of his locker, Quintana concentrated on a TV show on his iPad a couple of hours before he took the mound against the Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field. But this season has gone anything but according to script for the White Sox left-hander. Victory has eluded the 2016 All-Star. Hard luck — and hard-hit — continued to find him against last year's American League champions in the White Sox's 3-0 loss before an announced crowd of 18,159. Former Sox center fielder Austin Jackson's double off the left-center field wall in the third inning turned into a 1-0 deficit when a Quintana, wild pitch resulted in catcher Omar Narvaez's unsuccessful dive into Jackson at the plate. The fourth inning brought a two-run homer from Brandon Guyer one batter after a two-out walk to Jason Kipnis. "Tough game," said Quintana, who managed to lower his ERA from 6.75 to 6.17 after allowing those three runs, five hits, three walks and striking out six in six innings Friday. The damage would have been worse if not for Narvaez nabbing Carlos Santana trying to steal second in the fourth. The White Sox have scored a total of four runs for Quintana, who has allowed 16 this year. Two five-run innings — one against the Tigers in the season opener and another against the Twins April 15 — have accounted for most of those. "He's a human. Everybody has a great season, bad season, good start, bad start," said Sox catcher Omar Narvaez, who had one of the Sox's three hits against Corey Kluber. "He's one of the best lefties in the major leagues. The people are worrying about how he has started, but we should worry about how he ends." Things didn't end well for the Sox against Kluber, who faced 29 batters — two over the minimum — and struck out nine in the complete game. Smith optioned: After the game, the White Sox optioned catcher Kevan Smith to Triple-A Charlotte. Smith batted .091 with one RBI in 11 at- bats. The team will make a corresponding move before Saturday's game. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.22.2017 1063237 Chicago White Sox

White Sox blanked as Jose Quintana stays winless

04/22/2017, 12:09am Tom Musick

Some pitchers cause intestinal distress among fans whenever they take the mound. They make you fret. If it’s warm enough, they make you sweat. Not White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana. He has set himself apart by being so consistent, it’s almost boring. “He’s a guy you don’t worry about,” catcher Omar Narvaez said. “He can hit the corners and pound the zone.” But he cannot do anything to fix a meager Sox offense. And so far this season, he cannot win a game. On Friday, Quintana’s 0-for-2017 streak continued in a 3-0 loss to the Indians. The Sox (7-8) scattered three hits and had only one runner reach second base as they were shut out for the second time. Quintana (0-4) was good but not great as he allowed three runs in six innings. He gave up five hits, walked three and struck out six on a chilly night with temperatures falling into the 40s. Indians ace Corey Kluber (2-1) stymied the Sox for his fourth career shutout. He had a season-high nine strikeouts. Manager Rick Renteria said Quintana overcame shaky command at times to battle through six innings. “He gave us an opportunity, but when you face Kluber, we’ve got to do a little bit more,” Renteria said. A lack of run support is nothing new for Quintana. He is friendly and well-liked in the clubhouse, yet one might not know it based on the way his hitters abandon him start after start. Consider this: In Quintana’s four outings, the Sox have scored four runs. Three of those runs were in his season debut. The Sox have scored one run in his three starts since then. Zoom out on Quintana’s career, and you’ll find enough zeros and ones to make a computer scientist blush. The Sox have scored one run or no runs 38 times in his 155 career starts — 24.5 percent of his outings — since 2012. “Well, like I say every time, that’s not my job,” Quintana said in a quiet locker room after the game. “So you just try to do the best [you] can on the mound. .ௗௗ. “We have a long season. I’m not frustrated right now. I threw the ball well, I felt good today and I’ll just keep going. Sometimes this happens, and I never look back.” Trouble found Quintana in the third inning. He surrendered a leadoff double to former teammate Austin Jackson, who scored on a wild pitch that squirted between Narvaez’s legs. Quintana dug a deeper hole an inning later when he gave up a two-out, two-run home run to Brandon Guyer. The blast over the left-field wall followed a walk to Jason Kipnis, a Northbrook native making his season debut after spending three weeks on the disabled list. Renteria said he wasn’t worried about Quintana’s winless start. “He’s the same guy that I saw last year,” Renteria said. “He’s very composed, very poised, even in his outings that have contained one bad inning. He still grinded out and ended up giving us [five or] six-plus innings. .ௗௗ. “He’s a professional. He knows what he’s doing. He’s navigating through situations, regardless of how difficult it’s been in the beginning. He continues to pitch.” As long as he keeps pitching, Quintana expects the wins to arrive. “Absolutely, man,” Quintana said. “It’s the first month, and I want to be in a better position, but this happens. Head up and go, and be ready for the next start and get some wins. That’s all.” Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 04.22.2017 1063238 Chicago White Sox

White Sox put James Shields on DL with strained lat

BASEBALL 04/22/2017, 12:08am By Tom Musick

James Shields’ strong start has been interrupted by a strained right lat muscle. The White Sox put Shields on the 10-day disabled list Friday, a day before he was scheduled to make his fourth start. The move is retroactive to April 18. General manager Rick Hahn said the club would purchase the contract of right-hander Mike Pelfrey from Class AAA Charlotte to start Saturday against the Indians. “We do think that based on the MRI that we performed on [Shields] this afternoon that it’s a relatively minor strain, and we’re optimistic that he will only miss a couple of turns through the rotation,” Hahn said. Shields felt some discomfort in his last outing Sunday against the Twins but was able to pitch six innings. He received treatment the last few days and tested the muscle Friday but felt more discomfort, Hahn said. Shields, 35, is 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA in three starts. He has limited opponents to a .153 batting average. “There’s no reason for me to believe right now that he won’t be able to pick up where he left off once he comes off the DL here hopefully in a couple of weeks,” Hahn said. “You certainly never want to see anybody wind up on the disabled list, but we didn’t want to take the chance with him.” Pelfrey, 33, went 4-10 with a 5.07 ERA in 24 appearances (22 starts) with the Tigers last season. He has a lifetime record of 65-91 with a 4.57 ERA. Feeling better After enduring back-to-back bouts with the flu that cost him six games and 10 pounds, third baseman Todd Frazier sounded like a celebrity spokesman for the importance of proper hygiene. “You’ve just got to stay clean,” Frazier said. “Wash your hands every time you get a chance. I had to learn that the hard way. ‘‘My hands are as dry as can be right now. I feel like I’m overwashing them.” Frazier returned to the lineup after missing four consecutive games and six of the last eight. He batted cleanup between Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Frazier said he regained the 10 pounds he lost by eating frequent, healthy meals. “A lot of chicken, man,” Frazier said. Ready to go Catcher Geovany Soto is eligible to return from the 10-day disabled list Saturday after missing the last nine games because of inflammation in his right elbow. The Sox optioned Kevan Smith to Class AAA Charlotte after the game Friday. He threw to the bases before the game and reported no problems with his arm. Soto said he was ready to be activated but would defer to the team to determine his return date. “I felt like it was angry a little bit, my forearm and stuff, but now it’s a lot better,” he said. Soto, 34, is hitting .267 (4-for- 15) with three home runs and five RBI in five games. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 04.22.2017