Indians hit the road after perfect June at home
DETROIT --The Cleveland Indians visit the Detroit Tigers for a weekend series beginning Friday night -- and not just to say "Thanks" for helping them take first-place in the American League Central.
Cleveland will enter the series with a 6-0 record against Detroit, having swept a pair of three-game series earlier this season.
Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on SportsTime Ohio
After the last sweep, Tigers' manager Brad Ausmus said he hoped his players would remember how the Indians have handled Detroit so far this season.
"I guarantee if you ask the players," Ausmus said on the eve of the series, "they will answer they are aware we haven't beaten Cleveland this year."
"First off," catcher James McCann said, "we have our team together. (Cameron) Maybin wasn't there at all; the first series I wasn't there and it was just my first series back off the DL, the second time we faced them.
"(Michael) Fulmer hadn't really become the Michael Fulmer that we've seen here lately. A lot of the same guys (are here) but there's a different feel in the clubhouse. Roles have been established in the bullpen and it's just a different ... swag, if that makes sense.
"I don't really know the right word other than just the way that guys walk around. Just a different swag about our team."
The Indians will enter the series on a six-game winning streak that has taken them past Kansas City into first place. They won all 11 of their home games in June, the first month Cleveland went undefeated at home (more than nine home games) in team history.
"I think when we play, we play whoever we're supposed to," Indians manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. "Part of that streak was like three weeks ago. I think if we play good, we give ourselves a chance. If we don't, we give the other team a better chance."
Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer finished the homestand with complete games to mark the first time two Cleveland hurlers had back-to-back complete games of three or fewer hits since Aug. 21-22, 1977.
"They're all pulling for each other and wanting to outdo each other at the same time," pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. "It's really fun right now."
The series will begin with Detroit pitching right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (9-3, 3.24 ERA) against Cleveland's Danny Salazar (8-3, 2.23 ERA).
Zimmermann faced Cleveland just once, on June 15, 2013, with Washington. He was tagged for six runs on eight hits including a pair of home runs.
Salazar has made 10 career starts against the Tigers, logging a 4.55 ERA and a 2-4 record.
The Tigers have pulled Anibal Sanchez out of the bullpen for Saturday's late afternoon game against the Indians' Carlos Carrasco. Justin Verlander opposes Josh Tomlin in the Sunday windup.
Cleveland brought up shortstop Francisco Lindor in mid-season a year ago and he brought some fresh enthusiasm with him to the franchise. The Indians have focused on developing their own talent in recent seasons with better drafts and some good foreign talent coming into the organization.
Some of that talent may surface as the season moves along, or next spring.
The Sanchez start is part of Detroit's plan to firm up its rotation while giving rookie Michael Fulmer some mid-season rest. The Tigers want to keep his workload down to avoid a heavy year-to-year increase.
"No one really knows that the ideal amount is," Ausmus said. "People like to say 20 or 25 percent more the following year in terms of innings. But people are still getting hurt all the time.
"There's no perfect answer. This is a fuzzy science. People have been trying to control innings and guys are still getting injured.
"I'm sure we'll play a little by ear and a little bit will be what we think Fulmer's body can take. He's a little bit stronger guy. He's not 6-4 185 pounds. He's not real stringy and whippy.
"We're going to try and be careful now and hopefully he's good through the entire season.
"I don't think anyone has anything concrete."
