.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png)
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png)
FEBRUARY 22 • MLB.COM
JAMES KARINCHAK
#99 - PITCHER - CLEVELAND INDIANS
Two good: Karinchak's curve stymies hitters He's only had one full season in the big leagues (even if it was only 60 games), but James Karinchak has already made quite the first impres...
Candidate to close games Cleveland manager Terry Francona suggested Saturday that Karinchak will get the chance to vie for the team's closing job in spring training, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer...
Impact Francona said that he isn't ready to define roles for his relievers this early in the spring, but Karinchak would seemingly represent the top internal candidate to replace last year's closer, Brad Hand, who signed with Washington this offseason after being non-tendered. Though Karinchak occasionally struggled with walks (14.7 BB%) in 2020 and saw his velocity drop a couple ticks from the year before, he was otherwise excellent in a setup role during his rookie campaign, submitting a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings while striking out 48.6 percent of the batters he faced. At a minimum, Karinchak should be locked into a high-leverage role out of the Cleveland bullpen in 2021, though he would lose some value if Francona prefers to use one of the veterans on the roster with prior closing experience (Nick Wittgren, Blake Parker, Heath Hembree and Bryan Shaw) as the team's main option in save situations.
FEBRUARY 22 • ROTOWIRE
Indians spring thoughts: James Karinchak's curve, Bryan Shaw's return, Tito's wheels Indians spring thoughts: James Karinchak learned to throw his curve after a Google search. Plus, updates on Bryan Shaw, Logan Allen & more.
FEBRUARY 22 • THEATHLETIC.COM
James Karinchak learned his curveball grip by Googling video of Lance McCullers Jr from 2017 Karinchak said he watched video of McCullers throwing 24 straight curveballs to beat the Yankees in the 2017 playoffs.
FEBRUARY 22 • CLEVELAND.COM
James Karinchak, Emmanuel Clase both want to close games, but Cleveland Indians might have other ideas Both hard-throwing righties say they see themselves as closers but will pitch in whatever roles they're asked.
FEBRUARY 21 • CLEVELAND.COM
Bieber in camp with Indians after COVID-19 quarantine AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber has reported to training camp in Arizona with the Cleveland Indians after recovering from COVID-19
FEBRUARY 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Top 5 homegrown Draft picks in Tribe history CLEVELAND -- The Indians have a core group of homegrown Draft picks filling their 2021 roster, including Shane Bieber, Zach Plesac, Aaron Ci...
FEBRUARY 15 • MLB.COM
Inbox: Who is Karinchak's competition? CLEVELAND – We’ve finally made it. It’s time for the final Indians Inbox of the offseason, as pitchers and catchers are set to have their fi...
FEBRUARY 12 • MLB.COM
Notches win in finale Karinchak (1-2) pitched a perfect seventh inning with three strikeouts to earn the win Sunday versus the Pirates.
Impact Karinchak whiffed Josh Bell, Bryan Reynolds and Erik Gonzalez in the top of the seventh, and Cleveland rallied for the lead in the bottom half of the frame. The right-handed Karinchak pitched to a 2.67 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 53:16 K:BB and eight holds in 27 appearances this year. He will likely continue as a setup man to closer Brad Hand in the playoffs.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Indians rally past Pirates, will host Yankees in playoffs The Cleveland Indians are staying home for the first round of the postseason — with the New York Yankees coming to town
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bieber lowers ERA to 1.63, Indians top White Sox 3-2 Shane Bieber lowered his ERA to 1.63 in his final regular-season start, the lowest in the American League since Luis Tiant’s 1.60 for Cleveland in 1968, and Jordan Luplow hit a gam...
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mariners beat Astros 6-1, help Athletics claim AL West title
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tigers beat Indians 5-2 after Gardenhire's retirement Eric Haase and Daz Cameron hit RBI singles during a four-run eighth inning for Detroit, and the Tigers won their first game following manager Ron Gardenhire’s retirement, 5-2 over...
SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Indians hold on in 9th for 1-0 victory over Tigers Zach Plesac pitched impressively into the eighth inning, and Brad Hand worked out of a jam in the ninth to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers
SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pujols moves past Mays on HR list; A's clinch playoff spot
SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cubs walk off over Indians on consecutive HBPs Willson Contreras and Cameron Maybin were plunked by consecutive pitches from Cleveland reliever Nick Wittgren in the ninth inning, forcing home the winning run as the Chicago Cubs...
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Karinchak battling through first rough patch The Indians never doubted how well James Karinchak’s heater or nasty curveball would play at the Major League level. The only concern was th...
SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 • MLB.COM
Blows save, takes loss Karinchak (0-2) allowed two runs on a hit and two walks while recording his only out via strikeout to take the loss Monday versus the Royals.
Impact Karinchak entered Monday's contest with Cleveland ahead 1-0, but he walked the first two batters he faced. A Maikel Franco single spelled the end of Karinchak's outing, and reliever Adam Cimber allowed an inherited runner to score. Karinchak still has a solid 2.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 35:9 K:BB in 18 innings this year, but he's allowed three runs over his last two outings. The righty has five holds and a save in 17 appearances.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
_1280x720_1783379523768.jpg)
James Karinchak accepts the blame for Monday's loss
AUGUST 31, 2020 • Fox Sports
Franco, Starling rally Kansas City to 2-1 win over Indians Maikel Franco and Bubba Starling had RBI singles in the eighth inning as the Kansas City Royals rallied to beat the Cleveland Indians 2-1 in the first game of a three-game series
AUGUST 31, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Glasnow paces AL East-leading Rays to 5-3 win over Yankees
AUGUST 31, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dazzling in setup role Karinchak struck out two as part of a perfect eighth inning Monday in the Indians' 3-2 loss to the Twins.
Impact After struggling in his initial appearances this season, Brad Hand has been sharp of late to solidify his hold on the Indians' closer job, but Karinchak has nonetheless made a compelling case to warrant a roster spot in deeper mixed leagues thanks to the sterling ratios he's provided in a setup role. Through 14 outings this season, Karinchak has posted a 0.57 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 30:6 K:BB to go with four holds and a save across 15.2 innings. His 53.6 percent strikeout rate is tops among all pitchers who have made more than one appearance this season.
AUGUST 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Bieber strikes out 11 as streaking Indians shut out Pirates Unbeaten Shane Bieber racked up 11 more strikeouts and combined with four relievers on a seven-hitter Thursday night as the Cleveland Indians blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 to...
AUGUST 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pitches in eighth inning Karinchak recorded the final out of the eighth inning Tuesday against the Reds via strikeout before giving way to Brad Hand for the save chance.
Impact After Karinchak earned his first career save last week, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com speculated that Karinchak was "not going to be giving up that spot anytime soon." It now appears that manager Terry Francona still has faith in Hand, at least more than some believed, but Hand was shaky early on and Karinchak has some of the nastiest stuff in baseball. It's clear that the lefty Hand is on notice in the closer role.
AUGUST 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Reyes backs Bieber with homer, Indians beat Reds 4-2 Shane Bieber overcame two solo home runs to pitch into the eighth inning, Franmil Reyes hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer and the Cleveland Indians snapped a four-game skid with a 4...
AUGUST 4, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
