With nine strikeouts in Saturday's 9-0 win over Baltimore, Indians' right-hander Corey Kluber continued a dominant May. In five starts, he is 3-0 with a 2.02 ERA while the Tribe has a 4-1 record in games he has started in the month.
Dating back to 1914, Kluber is just the fifth different Indians pitcher to record at least eight strikeouts in five consecutive starts in the same season, joining Bob Feller, Luis Tiant, Sam McDowell and CC Sabathia.
He's the first to do it since Sabathia (April 15-May 6, 2007) and is the second Indians' right-hander to accomplish it. Feller has the record at nine (April 16-May 21, 1946). Going into the Baltimore game, Kluber was the first right-hander since Tiant to do it in four straight games (May 3-17, 1968).
"He's been really good and worked ahead with his stuff. When he kind of senses trouble he got after it," Terry Francona told reporters after the game. "Our game and league being able to be consistent is a big factor, that's what he is doing. That's what he was doing before the finger injury last year. This has been coming, it is not a shock."
The nine strikeouts on Saturday also gave Kluber 83 on the season, which is second in the American League. Tampa Bay's David Price leads with 84.
Kluber also became the first player in the majors this season to record five straight games with eight or more strikeouts. Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto, Miami's Jose Fernandez, Detroit's Max Scherzer, Los Angeles' Zack Greinke and Seattle's Felix Hernandez each had four-game streaks.
"The biggest thing is mixing it up and working inside and outside. The key is working ahead and staying ahead of the count and not letting them get comfortable," Kluber said. "I'm just trying to stay consistent with what I'm doing."
Kluber also has 48 strikeouts this month, which is ninth most by an Indians pitcher in May. With one more start likely remaining this month (if the rotation plays out it would be May 30 against Colorado), he could pass Greg Swindell, who had 51 in 1987.
The top seven in order are Sam McDowell (1968) 76, McDowell ('70) 71, Bob Feller ('46) 65, McDowell ('65) 64, Feller ('41) 62, Tiant ('68) 58 and Herb Score ('55) 58.
Of Kluber's 48 strikeouts, 25 of the third strikes have been on curveballs, 13 on sliders, nine sinkers and a fastball.
In further proof that Kluber has been the Indians' ace so far, he has gone at least 6 2/3 innings in all five May starts (the rest of the rotation has three) and has 100-plus pitches in three of them.
