Brantley's 1st slam ties it, but Tribe falls in 12th By Jordan Bastian MLB.com @MLBastian CLEVELAND -- The Indians' clubhouse was quiet to the point that the steady hum of the air conditioning was audible late Tuesday night. It was a drastic contrast to the raucous environment that overtook Progressive Field in the ninth inning, when Michael Brantley belted a dramatic, game-tying grand slam.

In a near-empty and subdued locker room, Brantley stood at his locker following a tough 8-6 loss in 12 innings to Texas. With one swing, he helped erase what had been a frustrating night in the batter's box for Cleveland's lineup. Then, the Tribe's taxed bullpen could not capitalize on Brantley's heroics. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to get the win," Brantley said. "But we'll keep battling. Never-die attitude. My teammates did a great job of even giving me that opportunity in the ninth inning right there. It was a hard-fought loss."

A lack of offensive production early -- Cleveland went 2-for-19 with runners on base in the first eight innings -- and some relief troubles paved the way to the loss column.

Lefty Jeff Beliveau, who played a key role in Monday's win, was responsible for three Texas runs in the seventh. Righty Nick Goody escaped jams in both the 10th and 11th innings, but he flinched in the 12th in the form of back-to-back homers off the bats of and Isiah Kinder-Falefa.

Under different circumstances, Goody likely would not have been in the game in that situation; Cody Allen logged 41 pitches on Tuesday and was unavailable, and lefty Andrew Miller is on the disabled list. And, as the game reached a dozen innings, only had righty Zach McAllister left.

"We're trying to go as far as we can," said Francona, who noted that the Indians may need to call up some bullpen reinforcements soon.

The silver lining for the Indians exists in the fight shown over the past two games by an offense that exited April with a collective .231/.300/.397 slash line. In Tuesday's 7-5 win, the Tribe churned out five late runs to hold off the Rangers. Monday's defeat included a two-out, two by Jason Kipnis in the seventh and Brantley's shot in the ninth.

In the home half of the ninth, and Kipnis connected for consecutive one-out singles, loading the bases against closer Keone Kela. Brantley stepped in with two outs and swiftly fell behind, 0-2. That is when Kela hung a curveball, which Brantley drilled over the wall in right for his first grand slam in 3,930 career plate appearances, pulling the game into a 6-6 deadlock.

Indians starter Mike Clevinger, who turned in 6 2/3 solid innings, was in the clubhouse at the time of the blast. "Sitting at my locker," Clevinger said. "Kela was throwing some electric stuff. As soon as he hit it, we could hear [the fans] erupt right before we erupted inside. We were like, 'Oh my God, what happened?' And then we saw it happen [on the clubhouse TV]. And then it was just amazing. A good moment."

On this night, however, it was only that.

"It was great," Brantley said of his slam. "It was awesome to do it at home, in front of your home fans, so you get the cheers and not the boos. It came at a good time, where it got us back in the ballgame and gave us a chance to win the ballgame. I think that was most important."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Kipnis bests Fister: Rangers starter Doug Fister has given the Tribe fits since his days in the Detroit rotation. Last year, the veteran righty toyed with Cleveland again, spinning a complete-game one-hitter for the Red Sox. Fister was up to his old tricks on Tuesday, when he blanked the Indians for the first six innings. Kipnis ended the starter's outing and ignited the late rally with his two-run double in the seventh.

Gallo robs Kipnis: The Indians had the makings of a rally at the start of the third, when was hit by a pitch from Fister, who then issued a walk to . Lindor then chopped into a 4-6-3 double play, putting the frame in Kipnis' hands. With a runner on third, Kipnis sliced a pitch into left field, where Gallo hustled to make a lunging catch, tumbling to the ground after the grab. Per Statcast™, Gallo covered 45 feet in 3.4 seconds on a play that had a 52-percent catch probability.

MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY Indians catcher Yan Gomes found himself involved in a pair of replay-related plays on Tuesday night. In the second, Gomes struck out on a 1-2 pitch that nicked his bat before hitting his leg. The Indians tried to challenge that it was a foul ball, but the umpires checked with the replay center in New York, where it was ruled that the play in question was non-reviewable. That led to an inning-ending .

In the fifth, Gomes legged out an infield single, but he was ruled out after a nice diving stop and throw by Jurickson Profar. The Indians challenged that call, which was overturned, but they did not score in the inning.

HE SAID IT "I sit here and say a lot of times, 'If you can get the tying run to the plate, we'll win some of those games.' Once we got that tied, I felt like we were going to win. We're at home. We get the last at-bat. It didn't work." -- Francona "I feel like it's almost a similar story to last year. A little bit of a slow start, even though we're still in the first. It's still like, 'Hey, what's going on?' But, we're in first place and we still haven't even really come together yet. That's a lot of promise to have that -- to be in first place and not even feel like you've played your team game yet." -- Clevinger

SOUND SMART Brantley's grand slam marked the first game-tying grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning or extra innings since Kyle Seager achieved the feat on June 5, 2013, for the Mariners. It was Cleveland's first game-tying grand slam in a ninth inning since Toby Harrah on July 20, 1980, in Oakland. The Indians' last game-tying grand slam in any inning was by Tony Bernazard in the fifth against the Angels on June 10, 1987. More >

UP NEXT Indians ace Corey Kluber (4-1, 2.18 ERA) returns to the mound on Wednesday, when Cleveland closes out its series with Texas at 1:10 p.m. ET at Progressive Field. The two-time American League winner is 3-1 with a 3.73 ERA in his career vs. the Rangers. Texas will counter with lefty Matt Moore (1-3, 5.33 ERA).

Lindor's walk-up recording a work in progress By Jordan Bastian MLB.com @MLBastian CLEVELAND -- As Francisco Lindor walked to the batter's box in the third inning on Monday night, chants of his name blared through the Progressive Field sound system. This, however, was no ordinary recording of chanting for the Indians' shortstop.

The high-pitched cries of, "Lindor! Lindor!" came from the children at Lindor's old elementary school in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. It was a recording from Lindor's visit to Escuela Villa Marina during the Indians' trip to his home island last month. When Lindor walked through the school's gates, the kids gave him a hero's welcome.

"I want something that reminds me of the kids back home," Lindor said on Tuesday. "That's the reason why I play the game." Consider Monday's recording a trial run, because Lindor felt it could be fine-tuned even more.

During the Indians' games against the Twins at Hiram Bithorn Stadium last month in San Juan, P.R., the crowd constantly beat drums, shook maracas and sang from the stands. Before Lindor's at-bats -- including a stirring in Cleveland's win on April 17 -- the public address announcer used the shortstop's nickname, Paquito. Lindor wants to blend several of those elements, if possible, to create a unique walk-up recording.

"I want something where you can hear the drums and you can hear the kids chanting," Lindor said. "I've got to get it right. I'm going to put something that reminds me of back home. I want that. I want that feeling of like, 'I'm home.' It reminds me of why I play the game. I'll get it right."

Worth noting • Pitching prospect (No. 8 on the Indians' Top 30 Prospects list, per MLB Pipeline) has been promoted to -A Columbus. In five starts for Double-A Akron, the 22-year-old Bieber went 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA in 31 innings, in which he had 30 against one walk. Bieber takes the spot of lefty Shawn Morimando, who was placed on the Minor League disabled list with left shoulder soreness.

• Indians manager Terry Francona noted on Tuesday that left-hander Ryan Merritt (10-day DL, left knee) is scheduled to make his next start with Columbus. The lefty spent the first month of the season rehabbing in extended in Goodyear, Ariz.

• Outfielder Melky Cabrera, who was recently signed to a Minor League contract, is slated to play nine innings in an extended spring game on Tuesday. From there, Cabrera will likely join Columbus' roster with a chance to show he can help the Major League team.

Lofton, Grant among 5 in '18 Hall of Game class By Deesha Thosar MLB.com Dick Allen, James Grant, Kenny Lofton, Eddie Murray and J.R. Richard will be inducted into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's fifth "Hall of Game" class on June 9.

Established by the Kansas City museum in 2014, the Hall of Game recognizes players who "competed with the same passion, determination, skill and flair exhibited by the heroes of the Negro Leagues."

Bauer and Astros engage in Twitter spat By Anthony Castrovince MLB.com @castrovince Trevor Bauer didn't face the Astros on Tuesday. Not officially, anyway. With Bauer's Indians at home in Cleveland and the Astros at home in , many miles separated the two. But the connective power of social media was on full display when Bauer and several members of the Astros got into a little bit of a Twitter spat over Bauer's suggestion that Houston's are doctoring to improve their spin rates.

It all started when Bauer weighed in on a question posed to Kyle Boddy -- founder of the Seattle-area player development program called Driveline Baseball that Bauer utilizes in the offseason -- about the increase in spin rates of Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton since joining the Astros.

Bauer's response was a reference to something he had tweeted earlier this season about the impact of pine tar, and he claimed that he could add 400 rotations per minute to his fastball if he "didn't have morals" and posted a photo showing the effect an increase in spin rate can have on results. Generally speaking, higher spin rate on a four-seam fastball leads to more swinging strikes as it allows the pitch to fight gravity more effectively and gives it the "rising fastball" effect.

Needless to say, Bauer's implications about pine tar created a sticky situation. First, there was this good-natured response from Lance McCullers Jr.: Lance McCullers Jr. @LMcCullers43 Jealousy isn’t a good look on you my man. You have great stuff and have worked hard for it, like the rest of us, no need for this. I will ask though because my spin rate and spin axis on my 4 seem is a$$. https://twitter.com/baueroutage/status/991339034034233344 …

There were plenty more responses and subtweets beyond what's listed here, but that was the gist of the Twitter tussle. At the root is Bauer's continued outspokenness without regard for ruffled feathers -- an approach that earns him many fans and many detractors. In the Indians' clubhouse, Bauer has found a generally supportive community that respects his individuality in the name of maximizing his performance potential. But Bauer's not-so-veiled accusation about the Astros online was a virtual step into another clubhouse altogether, and the Astros took issue with it.

"Honestly, I roll my eyes at it," manager AJ Hinch told reporters. "I do think people need to sweep their own front porch and deal with their own situations rather than throw accusations that are unfounded. I don't know if it's a personal vendetta or if he's got a problem with things. I know Twitter considers itself the police of the world. But in this situation, it's time to get to baseball. ... Our guys are pretty good. They don't deserve to be thrown under the bus like that." Bregman and McCullers declined to comment to reporters on the situation.

To be clear, the spin rate increases for Verlander and Cole are real, with Cole -- who happens to be Bauer's former UCLA teammate -- seeing a jump of 169 rpm on his four-seamer since last year, which is second-highest among starting pitchers behind Milwaukee's Junior Guerra. McCullers is up 98 rpm, whereas Morton has actually seen a decrease in his average four-seam spin rate since coming to Houston in 2017: He was at 2,317 in 2016, 2,237 last year, and 2,255 this year.

In an MLB Network Radio appearance, Hinch took the opportunity posed by Bauer's tweets to praise the work pitching Brent Strom has done with Cole and to note how a decrease in two-seam usage has improved the feel for -- and spin rate of -- his four-seam. And Bauer did respond to a tweet from a fan praising Strom by saying, "I completely agree with this statement. Brent is the man. One of my all-time favorites."

This all serves as a nice precursor to a pair of series coming later in the month, when the Indians visit Houston from May 18-20, followed by the Astros heading to Cleveland May 24-27.

Tito’s pregame minutiae: May 1 by Jordan Bastian Q: Has Melky Cabrera reported to Goodyear?

TF: “He’s been there. In fact, I think today he’s going nine. He was going to go seven and nine and then go to Columbus. I think today was the day he was going nine.”

Q: Is Ryan Merritt heading to Columbus to start his Minor League rehab?

TF: “Yeah, there was some talk where he was going to start a game in Double-A. He’s going to go to Columbus. He’s been throwing a ton, probably more than he has in a while. So, that was the idea behind it.”

Q: Merritt’s velocity was down to 82 mph during the spring. Has there been improvement on that front?

TF: “It’s not quite what it was before, but it’s getting better. Now, part of that, I think you’ve got to take into consideration when you’ve got a gun on a kid on Field 2 at 11 o’clock in the morning. I think there’s something to that.”

Merritt averaged 87 mph on his fastball in his stint with the Indians in 2017 and the lefty averaged 88.1 mph in ’16 in the Majors. Q: Has added anything new within his baseball activities?

TF: “I just saw him earlier when I was going in there. He was going outside to do some stuff outside. He’s feeling pretty good. I think in the back of his head, because he re-did it last year, I know he wants to make sure that he’s OK. I get it. We all want it to be yesterday and that’s just not the way it works.”

Q: What do you think of how Tyler Naquin has played in Chisenhall’s place?

TF: “I think he’s done fine. He battles. He competes. He may take an awkward swing at a time or two, but man, he’ll stay up there and fight his ass off and find a way to get a hit.”

Heading into Tuesday’s game, Naquin led the Indians with a 43.2-percent hard-hit rate, while batting .294 (.706 OPS) in 54 plate appearances. He had three Defensive Runs Saved through 99 innings in right field. Q: Do you think it’s been good for some relievers to get different situational experience with Andrew Miller out?

TF: “We have some guys that are pitching in a little different roles than they’re used to. I think in the long run, it will really help us. I hope in the short run, it helps us, too, because you don’t want to lose games. Olson, from the day he’s been here, has been terrific. He left a couple pitches up last night that [got hit]. I don’t think it mattered what inning he pitches in, he’s fine. He just left a couple balls up. I thought Beliveau showed great poise in that at-bat. And again, we need to get Mac going. We need to get Goody on a run like he’s capable of doing. Otero is so consistent. We’ll be OK.”

Q: During the spring, you said you weren’t sure how the innings would shake out between Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez. How much has Gomes’ play dictated him getting the bulk of the playing time so far?

TF: “Well, I think it’s the way it’s supposed to be. I think when guys are playing good, you want to play them more. I think that’s the way it should be. At the same time, I don’t want ‘Berto sitting too much, because we want to get him going, too. He’s had 30 at-bats and has had kind of a little bit of a tough time, but we need to get him going, too. So, that’s why we haven’t just run away from him, either.”

Entering Tuesday, Gomes had caught 161.1 innings with 17 starts, compared to 87 innings and 10 starts for Perez. Cleveland pitchers had a 2.68 ERA with Gomes vs. a 5.28 ERA with Perez. Gomes also ranked second among MLB catchers in framing runs above average (2.7) and fielding runs above average (3.0), per Baseball Prospectus. Gomes was 2-for-6 on throwing out basestealers, while Perez was 1-for-7. Q: Could it be possible for you guys to carry three lefties in the bullpen?

TF: “It could. It certainly could. I don’t think we would not do it because of a philosophical reason. I think sometimes numbers dictate that you can’t, but no, man, the more lefties, the better.”

Q: When things have gone wrong for Clevinger, it seems to come within a small stretch of batters. What have you seen along those lines?

TF: “However you want to say it — stop the bleeding, slow it down — I just think he’s been so good about being in attack mode and then he’ll go three or four hitters where he gets away from it. Hopefully, he can corral that quicker, because it’s only been a segment of like three or four hitters [where things go awry].”

Q: What did you think of Edwin Encarnacion’s defense at first base in Monday’s win?

TF: “I thought he saved the game with that play. That ball was a rocket. I think it’s good for him to get out there once in a while and get him involved in what we’re doing and everything. And he takes ground balls every day, which I’m glad he does, because it’d be easy not to when you’re DHing that much.”

Q: Do you think Jose Ramirez’s recent hot stretch has helped other hitters in the lineup?

TF: “Well, I mean, he’s a really good hitter. Sometimes, it’s surprising when he doesn’t hit. I know early in the year, that can happen to players. It’s kind of confounding, but it happens. But, he is certainly heating up. And I just think the more baserunners you have, they say hitting is contagious, I think there are reasons for that. You start hitting with a hole open, guys running, things like that. It lends itself to more success.”

Ramirez had a .061/.205/.152 slash line through Cleveland’s first nine games. Since that slow start, he’s hit .361/.425/.681 with six homers, five doubles, 12 runs and 12 RBIs over his past 18 games for the Indians.

Rumble Ponies 7, RubberDucks 6: Four-run ninth brings four-game winning streak to an end for Ducks by ABJ/Ohio.com correspondent The RubberDucks have feasted on one-inning explosions during this homestand.

On Tuesday, they were on the other side of it as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies came back to win 7-6 at Canal Park in a game that had all the makings of the Ducks’ fifth win in a row.

The RubberDucks (13-11) came into the ninth inning ahead by three and everything fell apart in what became a four-run inning.

The Ducks had a chance to tie the score with a runner on third and one out, but Willi Castro struck out and Joe Sever grounded out to second to end the game.

“You know what, we would probably do it the same way all over again,” RubberDucks manager Tony Mansolino said. “We have faith in the guys we put in there at the end. This one didn’t go our way, but so be it. We have to make some plays defensively in that inning to help us a little bit, but the guys we had on the mound are the guys we want.” The inning got off to a shaky start when left fielder Dorssys Paulino got a bad read on a ball hit by Tim Tebow that turned into a triple. Tebow scored what seemed like a meaningless run on a single to center by Champ Stuart before everything seemed to implode.

Levi Michael grounded out into a fielder’s choice and Patrick Mazeika walked to put the winning run at the plate.

Peter Alonzo didn’t disappoint against Mitch Brown when he lambasted a one-out home run over the right-field wall.

Alonzo continued an unbelievable string for the Rumble Ponies (12-10). Alonzo, the reigning Eastern League Player of the Week, is 18-for-41 with five home runs and 12 RBI in his past 11 games.

“You don’t want him to beat you on the pull side and he didn’t,” Mansolino said. “He’s one of those guys. He beat us on the opposite side. You have to tip your cap to the guy. He’s pretty dang good.”

The loss ruined a fantastic night by RubberDucks first baseman Bobby Bradley, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI.

Bradley notched his second multi-hit game this season, but second in the last four games.

The season is long, but Bradley’s early season slump might be turning the corner. He has hit safely in three of his past four games and four of his past six.

“I’m just putting in work every day and relying on God mostly for it,” Bradley said. “Yeah, I can start feeling it click a little bit, but I’m taking it one game at a time, one pitch at a time. It’s a big confidence booster. It’s like, ‘Hey, I can still play this game a little bit.’ You start having fun with it.”

Tebow went 2-for-4 with a double and triple but struck out with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth to end the inning.

The three-game series concludes Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Canal Park. Ducks left-hander Shao-Ching Chiang (1-0, 1.61) and Rumble Ponies right-hander Micky Jannis (2-0, 2.61) are the scheduled pitchers.

Breezy Bieber Shane Bieber’s time with the RubberDucks was short, but that’s what happens when you dominate the Eastern League. The right-hander has been promoted to Columbus after going 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 31 innings. No corresponding move has been announced.

Rangers 8, Indians 6: 11 Walk-Off Thoughts on Nick Goody being pushed to the limit and Clevinger trying to escape the big inning by Ryan Lewis 1. Having to cover an extra three innings was probably one of the last things manager Terry Francona wanted to hear Tuesday night. The bullpen, over the previous four days entering this game, was already taxed. Cody Allen threw 41 pitches while attempting to record a five-out in Monday’s game and wasn’t available. Zach McAllister has been struggling to stay on line. Tyler Olson has been knocked around a bit. Matt Belisle has struggled with consistency. And Andrew Miller is still on the disabled list.

2. Fast forward to Tuesday’s game. Jeff Beliveau, who came through on Monday, didn’t record an out. Eventually, and on the heels of Michael Brantley’s game-tying grand slam in the bottom of the ninth, the Indians got it to Nick Goody in the 10th. Goody struck out Renato Nunez to end the 10th. As he walked off the mound, he yelled and smacked his glove—Goody hasn’t been at his best recently. He came back out for the 11th, pitched a scoreless inning, and again yelled and smacked his glove as he walked off the mound.

3. And, because Zach McAllister was the last in the bullpen and the Indians needed to stretch everyone out as far as possible, Goody was sent back out for the 12th, even as he began to creep above 20 pitches thrown. The Indians were hoping he could either pitch the 12th and or at least get through two outs before turning it over to McAllister who also would have been pushed to the limit. Goody’s 27th and 28th pitches were each belted for home runs, and the Indians offense, this time, couldn’t respond.

4. It’s difficult to pummel Goody for the loss. In a normal circumstance, he wouldn’t have been left in to try to get through another inning. But, the Indians have had to push their bullpen into uncomfortable territory the last five days. On this night, it burned them. And on this night, Brantley’s grand slam gave the Indians a new hope, but it in turn left the bullpen in a difficult position to keep the game going much longer.

5. Said Indians manager Terry Francona: “Mac was our last pitcher, so we’re trying to—didn’t know if he would get through the inning, but I wanted to try to get part of it because again Mac is our last pitcher. It’s not that we don’t think Mac can pitch, it’s just that he’s our last one, so we’re trying to go as far as we can. … Up to that point, [Goody] was good. There were some good things happening, there were some things that weren’t so good. Once we got that game tied, and we’re at home, you’re thinking, ‘OK, we’re going to win this game.’ Their guy, Claudio, did a really good job on us.”

6. The Indians might be nearing the point of needing to make a roster move to protect the bullpen. Allen, Goody and McAllister have all been pushed into high-pitch-count innings over the last couple of days. Olson has now pitched three days in a row. Beliveau has likely found himself in more games than he expected.

7. Said Francona: “We’re going to talk about it. It’s nice to know that Kluber is pitching tomorrow, but if something were to happen like a line drive or something—we’ll talk about it.”

8. Mike Clevinger turned in a quality start Tuesday, allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings and striking out seven. But, a similar trend has plagued him in several of his starts—that being the big inning, or the one he can’t escape. In three of Clevinger’s start, the majority of the damage done against him as come all at once. On Tuesday night, he just couldn’t escape the fifth inning.

9. He retired the first two batters in that inning, and then ran into trouble. Delino DeShields lined a home run to the Home Run Porch. Shin-Soo Choo and Jurickson Profar followed with back-to-back doubles. For a short stretch, again, Clevinger was hit hard around a night of effectiveness. When talking about losing that inning, Clevinger at one point paused and took a deep breath, trying to release some of the frustration.

10. Said Clevinger: “That kind of happened to me in another start where I let a two-out hit derail me a little bit and the next thing I know I threw six more pitches and it ended up in three runs. I was trying to cut back on that. It seems like all our runs are coming with two outs, and that’s not a good thing. That’s hard to swallow. I went into this game trying to be efficient but then making sure nothing happened with two outs. And then that 3-1—it didn’t sit well. Obviously I”m sure I showed it pretty nicely. That’s another piece to the puzzle I’m going to try to conquer, and that’s shutting stuff down when it’s two outs.”

11. Added Francona: “He was good. He ran into again where it was like three hitters in a row, but I mean my goodness. On a lot of nights, he’s into the seventh, giving up a couple. I thought he’s been really consistent at getting us deeper into games. At the time he left, we were just having such a tough time scoring.”

Indians piecing together bullpen, hoping pitchers being in new roles has positive effect; Ryan Merritt progressing by Beacon Journal/Ohio.com CLEVELAND: The Andrew Miller Effect is real, and it looks as though it’s going to make roughly 10 days feel like 10 years for the Indians.

Miller’s absence was felt the first night after he hit the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, when innings that would normally fall under his jurisdiction instead went to Nick Goody, who was tagged with the earned run that was the difference in a loss to the .

It hit the Indians again Monday night, but the lineup came through to twice rally and reclaim the lead in a 7-5 win. Miller’s absence was still felt but it was in the form of closer Cody Allen throwing 41 pitches in 1 ⅓ innings more than pitchers finding themselves in new roles.

Trevor Bauer, who held his velocity and was pitching well, was left in to throw 122 pitches. Tyler Olson entered and allowed two runs. Cody Allen tried to shut the door with a five out save and nearly did, but had to be taken out after 41 pitches. It somehow all led to Jeff Beliveau on the mound for one of the biggest matchups of the season. Beliveau fell behind 3-0 to Joey Gallo as the go-ahead run with two outs in the ninth.

That certainly wasn’t an expected matchup in such a crucial moment but Beliveau bounced back to strike out Gallo looking to end the game.

“It’s the stuff you dream about,” Beliveau said. “My heart was pumping a little more than usual. I couldn’t throw a curveball for a strike. I went 3- 0 on him and then kind of just got aggressive. I didn’t want to walk him. That’s the last thing I wanted to do. I have a lot of good fielders behind me. These guys are great, so put it in play. He decided to take it.”

That isn’t exactly the ideal plan, but it’s how the Indians might have to piece together games with a stretched-out bullpen and no Miller, though it could only be for about another week. In addition, the Indians are still trying to figure out how to make up for the loss of workhorse reliever , who signed as a free agent with the Colorado Rockies.

The Indians’ hope is still that Miller won’t need long to return to the mound. Indians manager Terry Francona said on Monday that Miller hadn’t yet thrown a full bullpen session, but has been able to throw and keep his arm moving. In the meantime, Francona sees a silver lining in his absence that he hopes turns into a positive down the road.

Beliveau, Goody and Olson have all found themselves in higher-leverage spots. Zach McAllister has been worked extensively.

“We have some guys pitching maybe in situations they haven’t pitched before,” Francona said. “And that doesn’t mean — I think I said the other day, it’ll end up being good for us. Because guys are getting some experience that will help. We may have to win a few games like this. Sometimes that’s the way it is. But I still think we’re going to be OK. I think we have guys who can do it.” Coming back

Left-hander Ryan Merritt is nearing a return to Triple-A Columbus as he continues his recovery from with a sprained knee. Merritt tried to pitch through the ailment this spring while wanting to compete for a spot in the rotation. His velocity had dipped even below his norms. By all accounts, it hasn’t quite returned to where it was, but his velocity has started to return.

“Now, part of [it not being where it was] I think you’ve got to take into consideration that you’ve got a [radar] gun on a kid on Field 2 at 11 o’clock in the morning,” Francona said, indicating that in a game situation, Merritt would probably ramp it up beyond what he’s done. “I think there’s something to that.” considering bullpen reinforcements after 12-inning loss to Texas By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com [email protected] CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Indians and Rangers end their three-game series with a 1:10 p.m. game on Wednesday at Progressive Field. It's expected by that time the bullpen will have at least one new face and maybe more.

Following an 8-6 loss to the Rangers in 12 innings Tuesday night - a loss that wasted a ninth-inning, game-tying grand slam - manager Terry Francona said, "We're going to talk about it. It's nice to know that (Corey) Kluber is pitching Wednesday, but if something were to happen like a line drive or something - we'll talk about it."

Francona is a manager in need of innings. Andrew Miller is on the disabled list. He let Trevor Bauer throw 122 pitches Monday night and watched as he gave up a game-tying home on the last one. On Tuesday night, closer Cody Allen wasn't available after he threw 41 pitches on Monday night and he might not be available on Wednesday.

In Tuesday's game, Francona was forced to empty his bullpen. He received a decent start out of Mike Clevinger, 6 2/3 innings, but as welcomed as Brantley's slam in the ninth was, it extended the game and the bullpen even more.

To make matters worse, the Indians lost.

Mike Clevinger on Indians' bullpen and improving in two-out situations Nick Goody relieved Tyler Olson with two out in the 10th. Goody and Zach McAllister were the last two pitchers in the bullpen. Goody retired five of the first seven batters he faced with no damage. But Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit consecutive homers with one out in the 12th to take the lead and eventually the game.

If the Indians had tied the score again in the bottom of the 12th, they would have had to make an emergency trade with the Cubs to bring back catcher/reliever Chris Gimenez. That's the state of the Tribe's pen right now. To say there is a lack of consistency, is being kind.

On Monday night, Jeff Beliveau came out of the pen to earn his first save in almost four years in a 7-5 win over Texas. On Tuesday night, however, he relieved Clevinger and was charged with three runs on two hits and didn't record an out.

A couple more things to consider. The Indians have a makeup doubleheader against Toronto scheduled for Thursday. They've already said they're calling up Adam Plutko to start one of those games.

After the doubleheader, it's on to New York for a three-game series against Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and the Yankees.

That's a daunting task for any team, but especially one whose bullpen has allowed 22 runs in the last six games.

Michael Brantley's grand slam can't save Cleveland Indians in 8-6 loss to Texas in 12 innings By Paul Hoynes, [email protected] CLEVELAND, Ohio -- All the Indians' hitters wanted was warm weather. Well, Mother Nature delivered on Tuesday night and so did they.

The Indians were down to their last strike when Michael Brantley hit the first grand slam of his career to tie the score at 6-6 in the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings.

But Brantley's slam and 81 degree weather still weren't enough to save Indians and their shaky bullpen in an 8-6 loss to Texas in 12 innings. Nick Goody allowed consecutive homers to Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa on consecutive fastballs with one out to take the loss.

The Indians are 0-3 this season in extra innings.

Brantley came to the plate in the ninth with two out and the Tribe trailing, 6-2, following singles by Tyler Naquin, Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis. Naquin, who opened the inning, was forced at second by Bradley Zimmer. Closer Keone Kela had Brantley down in the count 0-2 when he drove a 85 mph curveball into the seats in right. It was the first game-tying slam in the ninth inning by an Indians player since Toby Harrah did it against Oakland on July 20, 1980.

"Brantley hit a bomb," said Kela. Goody (0-2) had already pitched 1 1/3 innings when he came out for the 12th. He retired Nomar Maraza for the first out, but Gallo and Kiner- Falefa burned him. In his last two appearances, he's allowed six hits, including three homers, and five runs in 2 2/3 innings.

When manager Terry Francona sent Goody out for the 12th, Zach McAllister was the only reliever he had left in the pen because closer Cody Allen wasn't available after throwing 41 pitches Monday and Andrew Miller is on the disabled list.

"Mac was our last pitcher," said Francona. "I didn't know if he (Goody) could get through the inning, but I wanted to try to get part of it because against Mac is our last pitcher. It's not that we don't think Mac can pitch, it's just that he' our last one, so we're trying to get as far as we can."

One bad sequence of pitches, a momentary glitch if you will, hurt Mike Clevinger again Tuesday night. Clevinger was rolling when suddenly, in the span of 14 pitches, he allowed two runs on three hits as Texas took a 2-0 lead and turned it into a 6-2 lead until Brantley's slam got him off the hook. In Clevinger's last start on Thursday, he retired seven straight before allowing three rapid-fire runs in the third inning in a 5-4 loss to Seattle.

"I just think he's been so good at being in attack mode," said Francona before the game. "Then he'll go three or four hitters where it gets away from him. Hopefully he can corral that quicker."

Delino DeShields, Shin-Soo Choo and Jurickson Profar were the three hitters who hurt Clevinger in the fifth. DeShields hit a two-out homer for a 1-0 lead. Choo and Jurickson followed with consecutive doubles to make it 2-0.

"It seems like all my runs come with two out and it's not a good thing," said Clevinger. "It's hard to swallow. It's another piece to the puzzle I'm trying to conquer -- shutting things down with two outs." Clevinger bounced back to retire five straight before Drew Robinson singled with one out in the seventh. When DeShields popped up a bunt attempt for the second out, lefty Jeff Beliveau relieved.

Monday night Beliveau earned his first save since 2014. He was not as fortunate Tuesday. He hit Choo with a pitch, allowed a two-run double to Profar after an 11-pitch at-bat and a two-run homer to Mazara. Dan Otero relieved as the Tribe bullpen continued to leak runs at an unexpected rate.

Doug Fister, who has pitched well against the Indians since his days with the Tigers, did so again Tuesday. He held them scoreless for 6 2/3 innings until Kipnis doubled home two runs in the seventh.

Kipnis nearly gave the Indians a 1-0 lead in the third, but he was denied by a fine diving catch by left fielder Joey Gallo to end the inning.

The Indians missed a chance in the first as well. Lindor opened the inning with a double. He took third on a ground out by Kipnis, but was caught in a rundown when Jose Ramirez bounced back to Fister.

Lindor made it back to third base and was called safe, but the Rangers challenged and the safe call was overturned. Fister allowed two runs -- they were unearned because of his throwing error -- and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He's 7-5 lifetime against the Tribe.

Clevinger allowed three runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked one.

What it means

Tribe starters have pitched six or more innings in 18 of their 28 starts this season. They rank second to Houston, whose starters have pitched six or more innings 23 times.

The pitches Clevinger threw 105 pitches, 71 (68 percent) for strikes. Fister threw 105 pitches, 59 (56 percent) for strikes.

What just happened? In the second inning, catcher Yan Gomes was hit by a pitch while swinging at a third strike with two out. The Indians tried to challenge the strike three call, saying he was hit by the pitch, but according to replay regulations the call was not reviewable.

It was recorded as a crew chief challenge and the Indians were not charged with a challenge.

Thanks for coming

The Rangers and Indians drew 16,356 fans to Progressive Field on Wednesday night. First pitch was at 6:11 p.m. with a temperature of 81 degrees.

Next Indians right-hander Corey Kluber will face the Rangers and lefty Matt Moore in the final game of this three-game series on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM/1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the games. Kluber, on Friday, struck out 10 in 8 2/3 innings in a 6-5 win over Seattle. He is 3-1 with a 3.73 ERA in six starts against Texas. Moore is 2-2 with a 3.57 ERA in seven starts against the Indians. This will be his third start at Progressive Field.

Melky Cabrera headed to Columbus and 4 other things we learned about the Cleveland Indians By Paul Hoynes, [email protected] CLEVELAND, Ohio - It sounds like the Melky Cabrera express is ready to roll out of Goodyear, Ariz. Next stop is scheduled for Columbus, Ohio.

The Indians signed the veteran outfielder to a minor-league contract last week. They sent him to extended spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., before moving him to Class AAA Columbus.

"He was scheduled to play nine innings (Tuesday)," said manager Terry Francona. "It was seven innings and nine innings and then go to Columbus."

If Cabrera, 33, makes it to the big leagues, he'll make $1 million with a chance to earn another $1 million in incentives based on plate appearances.

Cabrera played with the White Sox and Royals last season, but was one of several free agents who went unsigned over the winter. Cabrera hit .285 (177-for-620) with 18 homers and 85 RBI last season.

While Cabrera has proven to be a consistent big-league hitter, defensively he's left something to be desired. Fangraphs rated him a -20 in defensive runs saves last season. No.1: Another one leaves the nest Lefty Ryan Merritt is set to begin his rehab assignment at Columbus. The Indians placed him on the disabled list at the end of spring training with a sore left knee and shoulder. He's been in extended spring training ever since.

Merritt's velocity had dropped to 82 mph in late March, but Francona said it's increased in extended spring training. Merritt, who is out of options, can stay on his rehab assignment for 30 days.

Speaking of rehab assignments, infielder Giovanny Urshela's rehab will end on Wednesday. He's out of options and the Indians must add him to the big league club or put him on waivers.

No. 2: He's still got it Edwin Encarnacion made just his second start of the season at first base on Monday against Texas. In the sixth inning, with the Tribe leading, 2-1, Jurickson Profar scorched a ball down the first baseline that Encarnacion went to his knees to stop.

He touched first and threw to second to nearly double up Delino Deshields.

"I thought he saved the game with that play," said Francona. "That ball was a rocket. I think it's good for him to get out there every once in a while, get him involved in what we're doing."

Said Encarnacion, "I take ground balls, not every day, but three or four times a week. So I prepare myself just in case they need me there. I want to be sure I'm ready." As for the play against Jurickson, Encarnacion said, "It makes you feel good when you make a play like that. I shows people you can still do it."

No. 3: Catcher's corner Yan Gomes, through the first 29 games of the season, has emerged as the Indians' starting catcher. Gomes went into Tuesday's game with 63 at-bats in 18 games. Roberto Perez had 29 at-bats in nine games.

In spring training, Francona wasn't sure how the playing time would be divided between the two.

Gomes is hitting .254 (16-for-63) with four doubles, four homers and eight RBI. Perez is hitting .138 (4-for-29) with one homer and one RBI.

"I think this is the way it's supposed to be," said Francona. "I think the guys that are playing good, you want them to play more. I think that's the way it should be.

"At the same time, I don't want Roberto sitting too much because we want to get him going, too. He's had 29 at-bats and he's had a bit of a tough time, but we need him to get going. That's why we just haven't run away from him either."

No. 4: In closing What did Jeff Beliveau's first save since 2014 feel like Monday night against Texas? "It's the stuff you dream about," said Beliveau. ... Shane Bieber was promoted from Class AA Akron to Columbus on Tuesday to replace Shawn Morimando, who was placed on the disabled list. ... Francona said outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall (right calf) is making progress. "I think in the back of his head because he had the same injury last year, he wants to make sure he's OK. I get it. We all want it to be yesterday. That's just the way it works."

Cleveland Indians' Trevor Bauer puts different spin on success of Houston's pitchers By Paul Hoynes, [email protected] CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer has seemingly picked a fight with the , accusing them of cheating to increase the spin rate on their pitches.

In a Twitter thread that was started by Driveline's Kyle Boddy -- Bauer trains in the offseason at a Driveline facility just outside of Seattle -- Broddy was asked about the Houston's pitching staff this season. If only there was just a really quick way to increase spin rate. Like what if you could trade for a player knowing that you could bump his spin rate a couple hundred rpm overnight...imagine the steals you could get on the trade market! If only that existed... Bauer seemed to be questioning the success of new Astro Gerrit Cole, who was acquired from Pittsburgh over the offseason. Cole and Bauer were teammates at UCLA and from all reports do not like each other.

According to Statcast, Cole's spin rate has increased from 2165 with the Pirates to 2332 this year. Spin rate is the number of revolutions a baseball makes in a minute after it's released from the hand. The spin on the ball causes its trajectory to change. How does a pitcher increase the spin on a ball? Many use pine tar, especially in cold weather when the ball is hard to grip. In a start earlier this season, Bauer was asked about pitching in the cold weather and replied that at least he didn't cheat like a lot of pitchers by using pine tar.

Houston pitcher Lance McCullers, feeling Bauer accused the Astros' entire staff of cheating, replied with this Tweet.

Jealousy isn't a good look on you my man. You have great stuff and have worked hard for it, like the rest of us, no need for this. I will ask though because my spin rate and spin axis on my 4 seem is a$$. https://t.co/jvbLuWWqgN

Not sure if Bregman didn't know Bauer's first name was Trevor, not Tyler, or that was just a way to sharpen the needle.

Bauer Tweeted that he's done tests that show pine tar increases the spin rate on pitches. The Indians and Astros meet for a three-game series in Houston on May 18. If the the Indians' rotation stays in line, Bauer will not face the Astros. In his career, Bauer is 7-0 with a 2.89 ERA against Houston.

One thing to remember, if Bauer's intention was to call MLB's attention to Houston's pitching staff, well, that could cut both ways. What if some of Bauer's own teammates use pine tar?

What goes around usually comes around in baseball.

Buckle up: There's turbulence ahead for Cleveland Indians' bullpen without Andrew Miller By Paul Hoynes, [email protected] CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Indians had most of the winter and all of spring training to get used to the fact that iron-armed Bryan Shaw was not going to be a member of their bullpen after he signed a three-year deal with the Rockies in December.

What they didn't plan on was not having Andrew Miller to pair with closer Cody Allen in the late innings. It's not like Miller signed elsewhere or got traded. He's on the 10-day disabled list with strained left hamstring. But even 10 days without Miller, for a team that has depended so heavily on its pitching staff in the first month of the season, has caused turmoil in the pen.

The Indians scrambled to a 7-5 win over Texas on Monday night and a lot of scrambling was due to the fact that Miller wasn't there to calm the waters in the seventh and eighth innings.

It played a part in manager Terry Francona's decision to send Trevor Bauer out for the seventh inning with a 2-1 lead. Bauer retired the first two batters, but he allowed a game-tying homer to Robinson Chirinos on his 122nd pitch. Bauer, who struck out 11, was done for the night.

"It was a high number," Francona said of Bauer's pitch count. "He was throwing the ball really well. What happened, I didn't want to happen. That's kind of stating the obvious.

"But without Andrew out there, and the way he was throwing the ball, I just thought it was OK. It didn't work."

The 122 pitches were the second most Bauer has thrown in one game in his career. He threw 125 pitches last year against Toronto on May 8.

Not that Bauer minded. He thanked Francona for sending him out for the seventh. Francona has been looking for someone to bridge the gap between his starters and late-inning relievers since the opening of spring training. Now he's not only looking for a bridge-builder, but a late-inning reliever to fill in for Miller. And he might be seeking more length from his starters to get a few more outs on the front end to reduce the exposure of the bullpen.

Tyler Olson is a candidate to bridge the gap and temporarily replace Miller. He's had some good moments and some bad during his probation period. On Monday night, he relieved Bauer in the seventh and got out of that inning, but after Jose Ramirez gave the Indians a 3-2 lead in their half of the seventh, Olson gave up two runs to put Texas on top, 4-3, in the eighth. Francona, down by a run, called for Allen with one out and a runner on second. It wasn't a save situation, it was a rescue mission to keep the score close. Allen worked his way through four of the final five outs in the game, but it turned into a steel cage match that required 41 pitches.

He loaded the bases in the eighth, but escaped without another run scoring. The Tribe's offense, showing some rare late-inning fight, responded with four runs in the eighth for a 7-4 lead, but the Rangers would not cease and desist.

Allen faced five batters in the ninth, allowed two hits and gave up a run to make it 7-5. It forced Francona to do something he rarely does - take Allen out of a game with a lead and one out to get.

"I was torn. He pitched his heart out," said Francona. "I think there's a difference between being loyal to a kid and giving him a chance and hurting him. We were kind of walking a fine line there. I just thought for him to give up a hit and lose at 40-some pitches, I just didn't feel good about that."

Said Allen, "If you're throwing 40-something pitches, it's probably because you're grinding a little bit. The last thing I'm thinking about is looking over to see if Tito's coming to get me. I'm trying to figure how to get a big league hitter out, trying to get us a win in a ballgame. "Yeah, I looked over. I was a little surprised to see him come out, but we don't make those decisions. We're just there to compete."

Lefty Jeff Beliveau relieved to face Joey Gallo, who has hit home runs this season that are still going, with two on and a chance to give the Rangers a lead. Francona put it this way, "He was facing a guy who was trying to hit it all the way to Texas."

Beliveau, promoted to take Miller's spot in the pen last week, threw three breaking balls to Gallo to run the count to 3-0. Then he threw three fastballs to strike him out and earn his first big-league save since 2014 with the Rays.

"Cody threw a lot of pitches," said Beliveau. "Cody, those are tough batters right there in a big situation. I guess he got the ball to me. I never thought I'd be saying that."

Until Miller returns and order is restored to the bullpen, Francona said the Indians are going to have to win some games like this; games that don't come gift wrapped, that look like an ant hill that's been turned upside down. "We have some guys pitching in situations they haven't pitched in before," said Francona. "I think I said the other day, it will end up being good for us because guys are going to get some experience and that will help.

"I still think we're going to be OK. I think we have guys who can do it. We made some mistakes (Monday night). Olson got some pitches up and that really hurt. I still think we're going to be OK."

But just in case buckle up. There's turbulence ahead.

Taxed bullpen gives the Indians something to talk about By T.J. Zuppe 6h ago 1 Seconds after Renato Nuñez swung through a Nick Goody slider, the right-handed reliever let out an audible yell. The strikeout kept the Rangers off the board in the top of the 10th, just minutes after Michael Brantley had connected on a two-out, game-tying grand slam in the bottom of the ninth.

But by the time the 12th inning arrived, the glee of preserving the tie was replaced by different emotions.

Goody’s 27th and 28th pitches of the night were swatted and sailed through the darkening sky. The back-to-back blasts by Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa became the difference in the extra-inning loss to the Rangers, punctuating what has been a predictably difficult time for a bullpen without the services of the ailing Andrew Miller.

And to make matters worse, the recent struggles of the relievers to cover a larger workload has put the organization in a tough spot. Add in an extra-inning game, one which likely led to a longer stint for Goody than Terry Francona would have preferred on a typical night, and the Indians will have plenty to chew on prior to the day game Wednesday.

“We’re going to talk about it,” Francona said. “It’s nice to know that (Corey) Kluber is pitching tomorrow, but if something were to happen like a line drive or something …”

He stopped himself short of imagining something even more horrific.

“We’ll talk about it,” he reiterated.

The question about the need to add an additional body or two to the bullpen served as his final exchange of the night with reporters. Before writers could scramble to reset their recorders and prepare for the incoming starting pitcher, Mike Clevinger, Francona was already on his way out of the room, making the left turn down the long clubhouse hallway in the direction of his office, where he was due to presumably chat with several of the club’s decision makers.

The impending discussions were far from desirable, but with 21 earned runs allowed in 20 relief innings since Miller hit the disabled list, they’re running a little low on positive results and fresh arms.

The only reliever they didn’t use Tuesday, Cody Allen, had to gut through 41 pitches in the win Monday (and it still wasn’t enough to finish off the victory).

“You’re missing one of the best,” Clevinger said. “That’s going to be hard no matter who you are out there. They’re trying to cover that ground right now.”

So, what are some scenarios to consider?

Players with options always feel vulnerable, even when their performance doesn’t dictate a trip to the minors. Goody and Tyler Olson are the two relievers with options, and despite how Goody pitched last year, the righty even indicated over the winter to The Athletic that he knew a remaining option signals that his roster spot is never completely secured.

Jeff Beliveau, despite his heroics in the victory Monday, was charged with three runs and didn’t record an out Tuesday night. The 31-year-old reliever was added to the roster just last week, and the Indians could potentially create an additional roster spot by designating him for assignment, exposing him to waivers.

Adding to the complexity of the decision, the Triple-A roster doesn’t have the obvious promotion candidate it has featured in years past. Some of the options, based on our own speculation, might include Ben Taylor (3.48 ERA, 10 1/3 innings, 16 strikeouts), Neil Ramírez (3.65 ERA, 12 1/3 innings, 20 strikeouts) or Evan Marshall (0.84 ERA, 10 2/3 innings, 8 strikeouts). None of those three are currently on the 40-man roster, so adding any combination of them would require additional roster moves.

And Miller? Well, he’s not eligible to be activated from the DL until Sunday. And there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready that soon.

Oh, and did we mention Thursday will feature a doubleheader?

To say the Indians have some things to “talk about” over the next few days might be the understatement of the year.

Cody Allen shares the field-level perspective of watching Corey Kluber and Andrew Miller on a daily basis Zack Meisel 24m ago Cody Allen and Josh Tomlin were chatting about a Clayton Kershaw outing recently as they played cards in the Indians’ clubhouse.

As they conversed about the top pitcher in the , they looked over to the far end of the clubhouse, where Corey Kluber sat at his locker, the domain of the American League’s premier hurler. It marked a bit of an epiphany for Allen and Tomlin, who took a moment to reflect on the aura around Kluber, the winner of two Cy Young Awards and a man who seems intent on adding more hardware to his collection. They considered how consistent and unflappable he is, how fortunate they are to watch him every five days as he stymies the meager martyrs who stand impotent in the batter’s box as he slings his sidewinding slurve.

Jason Kipnis noted that every topic in the human lexicon surfaces at some point during the 200-plus consecutive days that teammates spend together over the course of a season. But perhaps Kluber’s eminence deserves to be discussed more often.

Kluber has limited the opposition to a .165/.210/.285 slash line this season. In other words, he has turned the average hitter into a pitcher. That’d make for a compelling superhero.

Allen shared his thoughts with The Athletic on Kluber (and Andrew Miller) and his perspective of watching such a skilled athlete on a daily basis.

ZM: You get to watch Kluber pitch every five days. Are you able to appreciate his ability and take a step back and fully comprehend how good he is at his job?

CA: At times. A start like (his outing against Baltimore, in which he held the Orioles to three runs over seven innings) — those starts right there, you kind of take for granted a little bit. He got us into the seventh with a three-spot, and it looked like he was struggling out there. He didn’t have his best stuff that day. He gave up a couple early. And you blink and it’s the seventh inning and he has 10 punchouts. That’s the sign of a true ace. That’s a horse.

But I don’t think anybody really takes anything that he does for granted. We’ve all watched a lot of baseball. We’ve watched a lot of guys trot out to that mound and, as a pitcher, knowing how hard this game is — the mound on a major-league field can sometimes be the loneliest place in the world. Normally, he’s doing pretty well out there, even in games where he clearly doesn’t have his best stuff. You look up and he’s at 90 pitches through the sixth and he’s given up two and punched out seven. And you’re like, “Man, he’s grinding today. He doesn’t have his good stuff.’ And then you look up and you’re like, ‘He’s figured it out.’

ZM: How much do you get to see Max Scherzer or Clayton Kershaw or some of those other guys who are at a similar level?

CA: We’ll see them on TV or stuff like that. [Carlos] Carrasco is in that group. It’s a very small, select group of starting pitchers who, especially in this day and age, with the games and how they’re played and bullpens — it’s getting a lot harder and more rare to see starting pitchers get you into the seventh every fifth day. Those two are going to get your into the seventh or the eighth. ZM: This might sound ridiculous, but if Kluber wins a third Cy Young Award at some point, he’ll be one of only 11 pitchers in history to win three — CA: There are only three pitchers in baseball history who have three or more and are not in the Hall of Fame. Two of them [Kershaw and Scherzer] are still playing.

ZM: That’s precisely where I was heading. The third guy is Roger Clemens, who won seven Cy Young Awards.

CA: We appreciate that. That is not lost on a lot of guys in here. ZM: Ten or 15 years from now, you might be watching him get inducted in Cooperstown.

CA: That is not lost on a lot of guys in here. Kershaw is kind of ‘The Guy.’ You look at his numbers on Baseball Reference and there’s a section at the bottom of all of his awards and his standings and stuff. But I get what you’re saying — when you’re looking at somebody across the field or you just see them on TV and you’re not playing with them on a daily basis, they’re maybe held in a higher regard because you don’t see them every day. With Kluber, it’s not lost on us. The guy doesn’t just happen. In 2016, he was third in the Cy Young. It’s not like they were just two anomalies or he had a great year, bad year, bad year, great year. It was like great year, good year — didn’t get a lot of wins, but his numbers were right there — really good year, great year.

ZM: Has it helped your perspective that you guys came up at similar times, so you’ve seen his entire progression into the pitcher he is today?

CA: Yeah. We were in Columbus together. I remember watching him in Columbus and he hadn’t really found the sinker yet. He was just coming into his own identity as a starting pitcher. His stuff was still pure swing-and-miss. He’d be into the sixth with 11 punchouts and then couldn’t quite get through the order that last time. There were a lot of games like that. But he always missed bats at an extremely high rate. But then once that sinker started coming into play and you started seeing not only the swings and misses, but the efficiency and the ability to go through a lineup quite a few times at a highly effective rate…

Think about this: There’s a reason this organization has done a really good job of scouting guys while they’re in the minor leagues and with amateur scouting.

ZM: He was nowhere to be found on the Padres’ top prospects list.

CA: There’s a reason they flip a guy like Jake Westbrook for Corey Kluber. They’re not just looking for a filler guy.

ZM: Same thing with [Mike] Clevinger, straight up for Vinnie Pestano.

CA: [Not everyone can] just do that. There’s a reason you go get those guys. The Padres may not have thought highly of him, but I’m sure there were quite a few teams in baseball that saw a guy with pure swing-and-miss stuff that just needed a little refinement.

ZM: And it’s easy to appreciate when he’s on your side.

CA: It’s almost the same way we think about Miller. You look at what he’s done the last four or five years. Since 2014… look at his numbers from 2016.

ZM: The walk-to-strikeout ratio is off the charts.

CA: He set the postseason strikeout record. He was 10-1 with a 1.45 ERA that year. He had 123 punchouts with nine walks. Think about that. He was pitching, like, every other night.

ZM: And you have to be on your A-game every time.

CA: It’s not like he’s getting brought in when the game is already in hand. It was nut-cutting time with guys on base. We brought him in numerous times with the bases loaded and one out, or first and third with one out and everyone was literally like, ‘There’s no way this team is scoring.’ And other teams thought that. In those dugouts, they’re like, ‘Please don’t bring Miller in. Please don’t bring Miller in. Please don’t bring Miller in.’ Sure as shit, he goes out there and we’re out of it. He punched out five in the ALCS numerous times. He’d go two innings, five punchouts on, like, 26 pitches. Meanwhile, I was averaging 20 pitches an inning.

ZM: You didn’t allow a run that postseason, you know.

CA: Yeah, but think about the efficiency. He’s not like, ‘Oh, I have to set him up with this.’ He was like, ‘Strike one. Strike two. Strike three.’ Or, ‘Strike one. Strike two. Ball one. Strike three.’

ZM: And that sort of efficiency was key that October, because you guys had to be available every day. CA: Yeah, and he was doing it against the best offensive clubs in baseball.

TRIBE NOTES Indians notes: Catcher Yan Gomes producing more and playing more than Roberto Perez Chris Assenheimer ByChris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-TelegramPublished on May 1, 2018 | Updated 6:10 a. m. CLEVELAND — Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez were expected to split time this season, with some observers thinking Perez might play more after serving as the Indians’ primary catcher at the end of last year and into the postseason.

It’s been the other way around.

Gomes, who is batting .258 with four home runs and eight RBIs, had started 17 times to 10 for Perez (.121, one homer, one RBI) through Monday.

With Mike Clevinger on the mound Tuesday, Gomes was behind the plate again.

“I think it’s the way it’s supposed to be. I think the guys that are playing good, you want to play them more,” manager Terry Francona said. “I think that’s the way it should be. At the same time, I don’t want Berto sitting too much because we want to get him going too. He’s had (33) at- bats and he’s had a bit of a tough time, but we need to get him going too, that’s what why we haven’t just run away from him either.”

Perez entered Tuesday on a 0-for-14 skid, while Gomes was 5-for-13 with a homer and an RBI over his last four games.

Medical moments Lonnie Chisenhall (right calf strain) is progressing slowly with his rehab work. He missed much of the second half last year after suffering a setback during his recovery from the same injury.

“He’s feeling pretty good,” Francona said. “I think in the back of his head because he redid it last year, he wants to make sure he’s OK. I get it. We all want it to be yesterday. That’s just not the way it works.”

Though Brandon Guyer has struggled, Cleveland has gotten production in right field from Tyler Naquin, who entered Tuesday batting .294 with a homer and five RBIs over 21 games.

“I think he’s done fine,” Francona said of Naquin. “He battles. He competes. He may take an awkward swing a time or two, but man, he’ll stay up there and fight his (butt) off and find a way to get a hit.”

The Indians also have a right-field option in veteran Melky Cabrera, who has been at extended spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., after signing a minor league contract, and is expected to join Triple-A Columbus over the next couple days.

** According to Francona, LHP Ryan Merritt (left knee sprain) will leave extended spring training to make his first rehab start for Columbus this week.

Merritt’s velocity was alarmingly low this spring, but Francona said it has increased.

“It’s not quite what it was before, but it’s getting better,” he said. “Now, part of that — I think you’ve got to take into consideration that you’ve got a (radar) gun on a kid on Field 2 at 11 o’clock in the morning, I think there’s something to that.”

Merritt is without minor league options, so when he’s ready to leave the DL the Indians must find a spot on the 25-man roster or risk losing the 2016 ALCS hero.

Who’s at first?

Edwin Encarnacion made his second start of the season at first base Monday night, making a nice play on a hard grounder down the line from Jurickson Profar with one out, a runner on second and the Indians leading by a run in the sixth inning.

“I thought he saved the game with that play, that ball was a rocket,” Francona said. “I think it’s good for him to get out there every once in a while, get him involved in what we’re doing and everything. He takes groundballs every day, which I’m glad he does, because it would be easy not to when you’re DH’ing that much.”

Yesterday Tuesday was the 63rd anniversary of a doubleheader sweep of the Red Sox (2-0, 2-1) at Municipal Stadium in 1955 that was highlighted by dominant performances from Bob Feller and Herb Score.

Score struck out a career-high 16 in the nightcap, while Feller tossed his MLB-record (tied with Nolan Ryan) 12th one-hitter.

Minor detail Giovanny Urshela had raised his average to .290 (9-for-31) — with three doubles and six RBIs — in 10 rehab games for Columbus through Monday.

The Indians are nearing a decision on Urshela’s future in the organization. When he’s ready to leave the disabled list, they must find a spot on the big league roster for him — possibly in place of current utility infielder Erik Gonzalez, with both players out of minor league options.

Roundin’ third Third baseman Jose Ramirez entered Tuesday batting .361 (26-for-72) with six homers, five doubles, 12 RBIs and 12 runs over his last 16 games. Ramirez had struck out only 11 times in 119 plate appearances, ranking as the third-toughest hitter to strike out in the AL through Monday.

Gallo, Kiner-Falefa homer in 12th, Rangers beat Indians 8-6 By Steve Herrick, The Associated Press The Rangers were on the verge of another difficult loss Tuesday night when they were saved by their offense. Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa homered on consecutive pitches off Nick Goody in the 12th inning and Texas beat the Indians, 8-6.

Michael Brantley tied the game in the ninth with a two-out grand slam off Keone Kela, but the Rangers bailed out their closer who entered the game with a 6-2 lead.

The Indians scored five times in their final two at-bats in Monday’s 7-5 win and the momentum again seemed to clearly be on Cleveland’s side. Gallo wanted no part of any negative thinking. “I told myself, ‘I’ve got to go up there and change the scoreboard,”’ he said.

Indians manager Terry Francona liked his team’s chances after Brantley hammered an 0-2 pitch into the right field seats.

“Once we got that game tied and we’re at home we figure OK, we’re going to win this game,” he said.

Goody (0-2) recorded the final out in the 10th and stranded two runners in the 11th. The right-hander retired Nomar Mazara to start the 12th, but Gallo homered to center to put Texas ahead. Kiner-Falefa, who had a career-high four hits, homered into the bleachers.

“You realize that you’re never out of the ballgame,” Kiner-Falefa said. “This shows that we’re tough. It’s a big win.”

The home run was the 57th of Gallo’s career to go along with 57 singles.

Cleveland’s bullpen has been short-handed since Andrew Miller went on the disabled list last week with a strained left hamstring. Closer Cody Allen was unavailable after throwing 41 pitches Monday.

Zach McAllister was the only reliever who hadn’t been used and Francona was trying to squeeze as many outs from Goody as possible.

“We didn’t know if he would get through the inning, but I wanted him to try to get part of it,” Francona said.

Alex Claudio (1-1) pitched the final three innings.

Kela entered the game to begin the ninth in a non-save situation and loaded the bases with one out. Tyler Naquin singled and Bradley Zimmer hit into a fielder’s choice. Singles by Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis loaded the bases.

Jose Ramirez struck out on a full count before Brantley delivered his first career grand slam.

Edwin Encarnacion singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Rajai Davis, but Yonder Alonso struck out. Kela, who converted his first six save chances, allowed four runs and five hits in one inning.

Brantley had a chance to win the game in the 11th, but grounded out to end the inning with Ramirez on second.

Jurickson Profar drove in a career-high three runs, and Delino DeShields and Mazara homered for Texas.

Doug Fister took a shutout into the seventh and was pulled after Kipnis’ two-run double. The right-hander’s throwing error made both runs he allowed in 6 2/3 innings unearned.

Profar had an RBI double in the fifth and a two-run double in the seventh. DeShields hit a solo home run in the fifth and Mazara’s two-run homer capped a four-run rally in the seventh.

Texas reliever Jake Diekman was struck in the back and left triceps by Encarnacion’s line drive in the eighth.

The pitcher was on the ground briefly, but remained in the game after throwing a few warmup pitches. The ball ricocheted to first baseman Ronald Guzman, who completed the out. Diekman was removed after walking Alonso.

“He hits the ball hard, I was like a deer going down,” he said. “It was pure adrenalin that I stayed in for the next hitter, but my left elbow is pretty stiff now.”

OF Melky Cabrera, signed to a minor league contract by the Indians last week, was scheduled to play nine innings in a game at extended spring training Tuesday. He’ll join Triple-A Columbus in the next few days.

Rangers >> RHP Chris Martin (forearm cramp) was unavailable after allowing four runs in the eighth inning Monday. Manager Jeff Banister said it’s too early to know if Martin will need a trip to the disabled list.

Indians >> LHP Ryan Merritt (sprained left knee) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus this week. He’s been throwing in extended spring training after being injured during the exhibition season.

Rangers LHP Matt Moore (1-3, 5.33 ERA) faces RHP Corey Kluber (4-1, 2.18 ERA) in the series finale. Moore’s last start in Cleveland occurred on May 31, 2013, and ended after one inning in a game that featured 4 hours, 49 minutes of rain delays and ended at 2:53 a.m. Kluber, who also started, pitched two innings and was pulled after a delay. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has won his last four starts.

Captains welcome former player, manager Dave Wallace By David Glasier, The News-Herald Dave Wallace was on familiar ground May 1 as fill-in coach for the Captains in their series opener against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Wallace, the special assistant for catching on the Indians’ player development staff, handled the first-base coaching duties for substitute manager Kyle Hudson.

Hudson, normally the bench coach, was filling as Captains manager Luke Carlin takes a brief respite in Texas with his wife, Kimberley, and their two daughters.

Wallace smiled when asked how it felt to be back in the ballpark he helped open in April 2003 as an All-Star catcher for the Captains during their inaugural season in Eastlake. “It’s always very cool to come back here,” Wallace said after the Captains absorbed a 10-5 loss in the opener of a six-game homestand.

When his minor-league playing days ended in 2008, Wallace joined the Indians staff for the 2009 and 2010 seasons as bullpen assistant coach. He made his minor-league managerial debut with short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley in 2011.

Wallace returned to Lake County as manager in 2012 and led a team anchored by Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez to the playoffs.

He next managed advanced Single-A Carolina in 2013 and the Double-A Akron RubberDucks from 2014 to 2016.

After managing Akron to the Eastern League title in 2016, Wallace elected to take a step away from managing. He wanted to spend more time with his wife, Lauren, daughter Lakely and son Stratton at the family’s home in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Indians retained Wallace’s services in 2017 as a special assignment coach. This season, he is working with catchers at all levels of the Indians’ minor-league system. He said he spends “about half” his time on the road and the other half at home.

“I’m grateful to the Indians for giving me the chance to still be involved.” Wallace said.

Wallace said he plans to manage again but has no timetable for a return.

The serier opener went sour quickly for the home team as the Timber Rattliers raced to a 9-0 lead after four innings. It was a rugged outing for Lake County starter and eventual loser Francisco Perez (1-1, 7.00 ERA). He surrendered nine runs, all earned, in three-plus innings.

Captains outfielder Will Benson smacked a three-run home run to trigger a five-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Captains slipped to 11-12 with the loss. Wisconsin improved to 8-16.

Indians can't take advantage of Michael Brantley's game-tying grand slam in ninth inning, fall to Rangers in 12 Chris Assenheimer ByChris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-TelegramPublished on May 1, 2018 | Updated 6:15 a. m. CLEVELAND — Nick Goody provided the Indians with a quality relief effort in the 10th and 11th innings Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

Asking the right-hander for more of the same in the 12th proved to be too much.

After striking out the final batter in the 10th and pitching a scoreless 11th, Goody allowed consecutive home runs to Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner- Falefa with one out in the 12th as Texas outlasted Cleveland 8-6 to even the series at a game apiece.

If the Indians bullpen wasn’t depleted — Andrew Miller on the disabled list and Cody Allen unavailable after a hefty workload Monday — manager Terry Francona might not have sent Goody out for the 12th.

“Yeah, probably not,” Francona said. “(Zach McAllister) was our last pitcher (in the bullpen). We didn’t know if (Goody) would get through the inning but I wanted to get part of it, just because, again, Mac’s our last pitcher. It’s not that we don’t think Mac can pitch, it’s just that he’s our last one. So we’re trying to go as far as we can.

“Up to that point, (Goody) was good. There were some good things that happened and some things that weren’t so good.”

It was a deflating defeat for the Indians, who got a game-tying grand slam from Michael Brantley with two outs in the ninth inning — on an 0-2 pitch — after scuffling offensively for much of the game.

“Once we got that game tied, and we’re at home, you’re thinking, ‘OK, we’re gonna win this game,’” Francona said. “Once we got that tied, I felt like we were gonna win. We’re home and we get the last at-bat. It didn’t work.”

Without Miller, Cleveland’s bullpen continued to scuffle.

Right-hander Jeff Beliveau, who struck out Joey Gallo to end the game in a 7-5 win Monday, didn’t fare as well Tuesday.

Beliveau took over for Indians starter Mike Clevinger with two outs in the seventh, but failed to retire a batter, hitting the first one he faced before allowing a two-run double to Jurickson Profar and a two-run homer to Nomar Mazara that extended the Rangers’ lead to 6-0.

With Miller on the injured list, Indians relievers have allowed 21 runs over 20 innings.

“It’s definitely taxing. They’re competing and they’re holding their own,” Clevinger said of Cleveland’s relief corps. “You’re missing one of the best to do that. That’s going to be hard no matter who you are out there. They’re trying to cover that ground right now.”

Cleveland’s offense, which entered the night with the third-lowest batting average (.227) in the majors and managed only three hits through the first five innings, continued to struggle with runners in scoring position.

On three occasions, the Indians put the first two batters of the inning on base and only produced runs once on Jason Kipnis’ two-run double in the seventh.

Cleveland got another quality outing from Clevinger, who allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out seven over 62 ⁄3 innings of his sixth start, leaving with Texas in front 2-0.

Clevinger didn’t allow a run and only three hits over the first four innings, surrendering three straight two-out hits and Texas’ first two runs — one on Delino DeShields’ first home run of the season — in the fifth.

“He was good,” Francona said. “He ran into again where it was like three hitters in a row. But I mean, my goodness, on a lot of nights ... he goes into the seventh giving up a couple. But he’s been really consistent getting us deeper into games. At the time he left, we were having such a tough time scoring.”

Brantley’s grand slam — the first of his career — was the first by a Cleveland player to tie a game since Tony Bernazard’s in the fifth inning at California in 1987. It was the first to tie a game in the ninth inning since Toby Harrah’s at Oakland in 1980.

Along with Jose Ramirez, Brantley is one of two Indians regulars producing offensively on a consistent basis, batting .329 with three homers and 14 RBIs over 19 games since leaving the disabled list.

“The offense is going to come,” Brantley said. “We have way too good of hitters in this room for us to be even concerned about it. We understand what we need to do, take one at-bat at a time, not try to do too much, stick to the basics and it will come. Everything’s going to be fine.”

“I feel like it’s almost a similar story to last year, a little bit of a slow start,” Clevinger said. “Even though we’re still in first (place), it’s still like, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ But we’re in first place and we still haven’t even really come together yet. That’s a lot of promise to have that, to be in first place and not even feel like you’ve played your team game yet.”

What you need to know about MLB's all-or-nothing April Sarah Langs The first full month of the 2018 season is in the books, and there is plenty to learn from a month that saw record strikeout rates, signs that another home run spike could be looming and another step in the launch-angle revolution -- when the weather was nice enough to actually play baseball.

April 2018 was the first full calendar month in major league history with more strikeouts than hits, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. There were 6,656 strikeouts and 6,360 hits. That's 296 more strikeouts than hits. Before this year, the smallest difference between hits and strikeouts in a full month was 138 -- but 138 more hits than strikeouts.

Smallest Difference Between Hits And K's MONTH DIFF HITS K April 2018 -296 6,360 6,656 April 2017 +138 6,185 6,047 September 2017 +203 7,144 6,941 April 2016 +241 5,951 5,710 >>Source: Elias Sports Bureau >Excludes March and Oct., not full months Last season, 32 qualified hitters had more strikeouts than hits for the season. And that was the most for any season in MLB history.

There are 56 such hitters this season (including March and April). There were 55 such hitters in April last season.

The Padres had 68 more strikeouts than hits in April, the largest differential of any team. Nineteen of the 30 MLB teams had more strikeouts than hits.

Last year in April, just 13 teams had more strikeouts than hits.

The strikeouts

Want to know why strikeouts are piling up at historic rates this season? Try stepping in against Milwaukee's Josh Hader or any of the other power relievers bringing the heat late in games. Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images There have been 7,335 strikeouts in the majors this season. We're on pace for 42,539, which would be 2,435 more than in any other season in MLB history. The strikeout record has been set each year since 2008 -- yes, that means a strikeout record has been set every season for the past decade.

The most strikeouts by a team in a season is 1,571 by the 2017 Brewers. We have three teams on pace to break that record: Padres hitters are on pace for 1,668 strikeouts this season, the Phillies are on pace for 1,614 and the Orioles are on track for 1,585.

Why have there been more strikeouts? For one thing, relievers are taking center stage. Starters are averaging 5 1/3 IP per game, down from 5 2/3 IP per game in April last season. When relievers come in, they're striking out batters at a higher rate. Relievers had a 8.9 K-per-9 IP in April last season; it's 9.3 to start this season.

Batters are also making less contact. There's a 74.8 percent contact rate in the majors. It was 75.7 percent last year and as high as 79.6 percent in 2009.

The hits we are seeing: home runs

With unexpected sluggers like Seattle's powering up in April, we could be in the midst of another season with high home run totals. AP Photo/Tony Dejak What does this mean? In part, that batters have continued their home-run-or-bust approach that we've seen growing over the past few years.

There have been 912 home runs this season. We're on pace for 5,289 in the majors this season. That would be eighth most in MLB history, but remember -- more home runs get hit as the weather warms up. Through April last year, we were on pace for 5,683 homers, which would've been second most in MLB history. We ended up with 6,105. The pace picked up in the summer months.

HR Pace Through Each Month - 2017 Season MONTH HR PACE April 5,683 May 5,915 June 6,133 July 6,113 August 6,174 Finished with 6,105 Why might the pace pick up even more than last season -- which started at a higher rate? Last year, two games all season were played in temperatures of 40 degrees or below at game time, both in April. This season, there have been 35 such games. • That's the most games at 40 degrees or colder at game time in the past 21 seasons (as far back as weather data goes reliably).

• Over the past 10 seasons, there have been 1.5 homers per game in games that were 40 degrees or colder at game time and 2.0 homers per game in games when it was warmer than 40.

This year, the average MLB launch angle is 11.7 degrees. That would be the highest average launch angle across the majors since Statcast began tracking in 2015. In each of the previous three seasons, the MLB-wide HR total has risen, as has the MLB average launch angle.

Average Launch Angle By Season (Degrees) YEAR LAUNCH ANGLE HRS 2018 11.7 912<< 2017 11.1 6,105< 2016 10.8 5,610 2015 10.1 4,909

Stark: T-t-t-ten things that we learned from April By Jayson Stark May 1, 2018 33 The coldest, snowiest, rainiest, sloppiest April in modern baseball history is finally over. It’s enough to make you want to slip into a pair of shorts, lather on some sunscreen and head for a ballpark near you, isn’t it?

So, what has the first month of this crazy season taught us? Glad you asked – because we’ve been contemplating that question. Now here come the answers, in this list of 10 Things We’ve Learned from this hellacious April of baseball we just survived:

1. THE BALL IS NEVER IN PLAY (WELL, SEEMS LIKE IT) It was only a few weeks ago that we wrote about how much more fun baseball is to watch when something actually happens on that field below. But if you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed that that concept we used to know as “action” is becoming a more endangered species than the Siberian tiger.

That ominous trend was already well underway before this season ever started. But what April taught us is that not a darned thing has changed. Here are the terrifying first-month developments on the Disappearing Ball in Play front:

MORE STRIKEOUTS THAN HITS: Did you know there has never been a season in history with more strikeouts than hits? But not for long, we’re afraid. So far, we’ve seen an astonishing 343 more whiffs than hits. And that’s shocking. As recently as three years ago, there were almost 5,000 more hits than strikeouts. Now, the hits are vanishing, and the swings and misses are multiplying. Help!

STRIKEOUTS, STRIKEOUTS, MORE STRIKEOUTS: Until last year, there also had never been a season – ever – with 40,000 strikeouts. Now, there might never be a season with under 40,000. At the current rate, we’ll finish this season with 42,525 K’s (which computes, amazingly, to almost one per inning). That would be about 10,000 more whiffs than just 10 years ago. And 5,000 more than five years ago. And about 2,500 more than last season. Yikes! At least the air flow in the park will be picking up on hot summer nights.

THREE TRUE OUTCOME UPDATE: Nearly 35 percent of all plate appearances (34.6 to be precise) now end with either a strikeout, a walk or a home run. Guess which way that percentage is trending? It was 33.5 percent last season. It was 32.3 the year before. It was 30.3 five years ago. Ten years ago, it was 28.8. Can anything reverse this pattern? Not that we’ve noticed.

THE GRIM TOTALS: Finally, let’s translate all that for you. At this pace, there will be 2,000 fewer balls in play this season than last season. And 5,000 fewer than just three years ago. And 10,000 fewer than nine years ago. Wow. Every ball in play is a highlight video waiting to happen. Except now, it’s a highlight video that never gets a chance to happen.

2. THE BASEMENT RACES ARE HOT! We’ve got a personal moratorium in place on applying that word “tanking” to this sport, unless there is no avoiding it. But whatever you want to call it, the race for the bottom of this sea has never been more heated.

In case you hadn’t caught on to this, eight teams ended April on pace to lose 100 games – the Reds, Royals, Orioles, White Sox, Marlins, Padres Twins and Rangers. That would break the April record for that sort of thing in the wild-card era, previously set in these two seasons:

Year 100-loss pace Finished with 100 losses 2000 7 teams 0 teams 2016 7 teams 1 team (Twins) As you can see, at least past Aprils haven’t proven to be real predictive of future 100-loss seasons. But the scary part this year is that it isn’t just the losses. It’s the lopsided losses.

The Royals (on the road to minus-376) are actually on pace to break the modern record for worst run differential in a season (minus-349, by the 1932 Red Sox). And the Orioles (minus-312) also would wind up at negative-300-plus at this rate.

So, how rare is that? Only two teams – the 2003 and 1996 Tigers – have finished at minus-300 or worse in the 57 seasons since the ’62 Mets set the standard for post-expansion ineptitude (with a 40-120 record and minus-331 run differential). And the last time more than one team pulled off the negative-300 trick in the same year was 1939 (A’s, Browns, Phillies). So, who cares how early it is. This is not a pretty picture. It feels – already – as if there are more hopelessly bad teams than in any season in recent memory. 3. THE AL PLAYOFF TEAMS ARE ALREADY DECIDED Wait. What? The races are over? With like 135 games still to play? Oh, all right. Not technically.

But going off what we’ve witnessed so far, would anyone bet against the Astros, Indians, Red Sox and Yankees making up four-fifths of the American League postseason field? Anyone?

“The only race in that league is for the second wild card,” one NL executive said this week, with no equivocation whatsoever. “You’ve basically got the Angels, Mariners and Blue Jays in a battle for one spot. That’s the way it feels, anyway.”

The Red Sox and Yankees – who hadn’t had nine-game winning streaks this close together since August 1939 – have taken turns playing the part of the hottest team in the league. The Astros look like they’re even better than the juggernaut that rode on the parade floats last fall. And while the Indians (15-12) haven’t even gotten heated up yet, the rest of their division is a combined 35 games under .500. So, in a league with such a minuscule middle class, those four teams all feel like locks – barring cataclysmic injuries.

4. THE NL ISN’T FOLLOWING THE SCRIPT A month ago, the National League looked as if it were going to be just as predictable. But the Nationals, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Mets and Pirates never got the memo.

The Nationals started out 4-0. They’re 8-16 since. Once, they seemed like such a sure thing to blow away the NL East that a rival NL exec joked in spring training: “They’re not going to play a game that counts until Oct. 4.” Oops!

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are already further out of first place (eight games) than they were at any time last year. They’ve lost for the year, and they’ve missed Justin Turner even more than they expected. They’d have laughed uproariously if you’d told them a month ago that Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood would lose as many games in April (seven) as they lost all last season and that Kenley Jansen would blow more saves in April (two) than he blew all last year (one). But welcome to reality.

It was about this time last year that the Dodgers awoke from a 10-12 funk to rip off a historic 81-24 streak over their next 105 games. Well, if they still have that next gear in them, they’d better not wait long to find it – because their good friends in Arizona might really be this good.

The Diamondbacks just became the first NL team to win its first nine series of a season since Wildfire Schulte’s 1907 Cubs. Their rotation is averaging better than 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. And their bullpen has been so dominant (.195 opponent average, just 17 extra-base hits allowed in 348 AB) that this team has only lost one game all year when it took a lead in the first three innings. So, with all due respect to the Pirates and Mets, the D-Backs are the most surprising team of 2018 – and the most dangerous.

5. OZZIE ALBIES IS THE NEW JOSÉ ALTUVE He’s 5-foot-8, 165 pounds. He plays second base. But he isn’t José Altuve. So down in Atlanta, it is Ozzie Albies who has become baseball’s most eye-popping new mini-mite.

His hitting coach, Kevin Seitzer, calls him “the strongest man, pound for pound, in the league.” And who’s to argue?

All Albies did in March/April was lead the NL (or tie for the lead) in runs, hits, home runs, doubles, total bases and extra-base hits. That’s all. And his 22 extra-base hits (vs. just 12 singles) equaled the NL record for most extra-base hits before May 1.

You might want to know that only three players ever led their league in hits at age 21 or younger: Ty Cobb, Al Kaline and Starlin Castro. And here’s the group that led in extra-base hits at 21 or younger: Cobb, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle and Sherry Magee.

Got your attention yet? Thought so. Ozzie Albies. He’s a must-see attraction.

6. DIDI GREGORIUS IS THE NEW A-ROD Here is Didi Gregorius’ month (and please allow us to employ a little poetic license in using the word “month” to describe what was actually April, plus three games in March):

.327 AVG/.421 OBP/.735 SLUG/1.156 OPS/10 HR/30 RBIs/24 Runs

Now, here’s a list of all the in the last 100 years who have ever had a calendar “month” like that:

Alex Rodriguez (August 2003): .340/.454/.849/1.303/15 HR/31 RBIs/30 Runs

End of list. We’re allowing the March/April technicality because A-Rod actually had more plate appearances in his real month (130) than Gregorius had in his hybrid month (121). But this isn’t about the definition of “month.” This is about the definition of “superstar.”

“This guy’s a great defender,” said one scout. “He can run. And he can hit. And he’s hitting for power in a way nobody projected. And, most importantly, he’s changed his approach. He’s taking walks. He’s cutting down his strikeouts. So he’s an all-star. And if you’re an all-star in New York, you’re a superstar.”

7. SHOHEI OHTANI IS NOT THE BABE – YET You thought Didi Gregorius had a tough assignment – to go out and be the next Derek Jeter? Well, that was nothing, compared with Shohei Ohtani’s mission: To go out and be the next George H. “Bambino” Ruth.

So, here we are, a month into this mesmerizing experiment. And Ohtani has put together a phenomenal highlight reel – from his home run off the incumbent Cy Young (Corey Kluber) to his seven-inning, 12-strikeout, one-hitter against Oakland, from the four times he hit 101 mph on the mound last week to the 410-foot rocket he launched Friday off a 97-mph heater from Luis Severino.

But where exactly is this season leading him? Is he going to make a significant impact as either a pitcher or a hitter – or both? Who the heck knows yet? He’s hitting .341/.383/.682 when the Angels let him DH. And he has punched out 26 hitters (vs. 14 hits allowed) in 20 1/3 IP. So, there’s no debate anymore about whether he has the talent to pull this off.

Yet he is only on pace to get 272 plate appearances and pitch 114 innings. That’s enough to seal his fate as the most interesting man in the world of baseball, my friends. But is it enough to earn him a place as the greatest two-way player since the Babe? Hmm. We’ll have to get back to you on that one.

8. THE ASTROS’ ROTATION IS RIDICULOUS Mark this down for future reference. The Houston Astros just might turn out to have the most dominating rotation ever.

It’s a lot to ask for these dudes to crank out five more months like the month they just unfurled. But here is the pace they’re on – stacked up against the history they have a chance to make:

STRIKEOUTS – Current pace: 1,220. The record: 1,066 (by the 2017 Indians). K/9 IP – Current pace: 10.82 per 9 innings. The record: 10.01 (by the same 2017 Indians). DOUBLE-DIGIT K’s – Current pace: 49 for the season. The record: 35 (by Randy Johnson and ’s 2001 Diamondbacks). HITS/9 IP – Current pace: just 6.36 per 9 innings. The record: 6.43 (by the 1968 Indians, in the Year of the Pitcher). Best in the AL since the mound was raised after that ’68 season: 7.04 (by Nolan Ryan’s 1972 Angels). STRIKEOUT MACHINES – Current pace: Four different Astros starters are averaging at least 10.8 strikeouts per 9 IP. The record: Only one team in history has had more than ONE qualifying starter compile a strikeout rate that high – the 2001 Johnson/Schilling Diamondbacks.

So, are all these guys going to stay healthy enough to make all this history? Ha. That never happens. But we just wanted you to know it could – based on a March/April for the ages.

9. THE YANKEES ARE GOING TO BREAK THE HR RECORD The all-time record for home runs in one baseball season is 264, by Jay Buhner’s 1997 Mariners. And this just in – if you’re currently enjoying the view of Mount Rainier or thumbing through your old Jay Buhner scrapbook:

Savor that record while you can – because it has five more months to live.

The Yankees somehow emerged from a cold, wet, hitter-unfriendly April on a pace to make 237 home-run trots. Which would be the sixth-most in the history of the Ruth/Gehrig/Mantle/Maris/Reggie/Etc. Yankees, incidentally. And they haven’t even gotten rolling yet.

So they are going to pass those 1997 Mariners. Book it.

Giancarlo Stanton hit 59 homers last year. He has hit five this year.

Brett Gardner hit 21 last year. He has hit one this year.

Greg Bird hit 12 in 189 at-bats last year, counting the postseason. He’s still on the disabled list this year.

We’re just beginning to find out what Miguel Andújar, Tyler Austin and Gleyber Torres are capable of. Neil Walker hit 23 homers in two different big-league seasons. Jacoby Ellsbury once hit 32. They’re all on this team’s payroll.

So, pretty soon, the sun will shine, the wind will blow out, and the baseballs will carry. You know what that means? It means the question isn’t whether these Yankees will make home-run history. It’s merely how much home-run history they will make.

10. THE MOUND VISIT RULE IS WORKING Does anyone miss mound visits? Maybe Yadier Molina does. Maybe Willson Contreras does. But does anyone miss them who is just trying to watch a darned baseball game?

Last year, your typical team averaged nearly four mound visits per game. So, your typical game averaged 7.41 visits by the two teams involved.

This year, your typical team averages fewer than 1.9 mound visits per game. So, your typical game features an average of 3.90 by both teams. Big difference.

It’s all because of the new rule limiting visits to six per game per team. We’re now more than 400 games into this season. And exactly once has any team used up all six visits in a nine-inning game. So, the sport has gone on, largely unfazed – and with almost no sign-stealing controversy (aside from one minor Javier Báez flare-up in an April 22 Cubs-Rockies game).

So, when you take all those mound visits that don’t happen anymore and add them to the new rules tightening between-inning breaks, guess what’s happened? The average nine-inning game is nearly four minutes shorter than it was a year ago. That’s what. It has dropped from 3 hours, 5 minutes, 11 seconds to 3:01:34.

You know what that teaches us? It’s proof of just how much dead time can be surgically removed from a baseball game and inflict almost no pain on pretty much anybody if it’s done correctly.

It took one month of April baseball to teach that lesson. And here’s the moral of that story: It’s a sure sign that there will be more rules attacking more dead time coming to your favorite ballpark in the years to come. And the best news of all is, just about no one will shed a single tear.