Nick Swisher, Carlos Santana and Lonnie Chisenhall can all work in the same lineup. Now it's a matter of getting all three to produce at the same time.
Since Swisher was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, all three have been in the lineup three of the past four games. Swisher though has been the designated hitter with Santana at first and Chisenhall at third.
Chisenhall began the week as the toast of baseball, becoming the first player to have five hits, three home runs and nine RBI in five plate appearances as the Indians defeated the Rangers 17-7. On Wednesday, he extended his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games.
In a move that attracted lots of second-guessing on Twitter -- and with good reason -- Chisenhall was given the day off on Thursday and Mike Aviles played third. Since returning to the lineup, Chisenhall has gone hitless in 10 at-bats. It is the first time this season that Chisenhall has gone hitless in three straight games that he has started.
Santana is hitting .343 since coming off the seven-day disabled list on June 6 along with two home runs and eight RBI. For most of the Boston series, it appeared as if Swisher was not going to get the post-DL bounce that Santana and Jason Kipnis received, but Swisher broke an 0-for-12 slump with a home run in the 11th inning on Sunday as the Tribe got a split of the four-game set at Fenway Park.
The Indians were 3-4 last week but went 5-5 on the 10-game road trip. Considering how bad the Tribe has been on the road, they will take that as they return home only 3½ games out of first and Detroit coming to Progressive Field for a three-game set starting Friday.
GOOD WEEK
Chisenhall's record game on Monday and donating his bat to the Baseball Hall of Fame could classify as a good year for some. Even though he went 0 for 10 in Boston, Chisenhall had a .409 average for the week as he was 9 for 22.
Michael Brantley had the top batting average for the past week in the majors as he hit .538 (14 of 26) with two home runs and three RBI. He is tied for fourth in the American League in season batting average at .322.
BAD WEEK
David Murphy was 3 for 24, including going 1 of 12 in the Boston series.
Yan Gomes was 1 for 22 and is hitless in his last 11 at-bats. He did have a sac fly during the seventh inning on Sunday that tied the game.
Justin Masterson had the shortest non-weather outing of his career on Friday as he went only two innings and gave up five runs. Masterson's 5.05 ERA is the highest in the American League among pitchers who have made 14 or more starts.
SCORING POSITION
The Indians are 0 for their last 16 with runners in scoring position and were 3 of 22 in the Red Sox series.
STARTERS SHUT OUT
The Indians got three wins last week but all of the wins came via the bullpen. On Monday, the Tribe was up 12-6 but T.J. House did not work the five innings needed to earn the win. Tribe relievers have 17 wins, which leads the American League.
LOOKING AHEAD
Angels at Indians
First pitch: 7:05 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 12:05 p.m. Thursday
Probables: Monday -- RH Trevor Bauer (1-3, 4.24) vs. RH Jered Weaver (7-5, 3.51) ; Tuesday -- RH Josh Tomlin (4-3, 3.33) vs. RH Matt Shoemaker (3-1, 4.19); Wednesday -- RH Justin Masterson (4-5, 5.05) vs. LH C.J. Wilson (7-6, 3.50); Thursday -- LH TJ House (0-1, 4.88) vs. RH Garrett Richards (6-2, 2.87)
Season series: Indians were swept in a three-game series at Anaheim in late April.
Of note: Indians are 5-8 against the AL West this season. ... Albert Pujols is tied for sixth in the American League with 16 home runs. ... Mike Trout is seventh in the AL in RBI with 50. Michael Brantley is ninth with 45.
Tigers at Indians
First pitch: 7:05 p.m. Friday; 7:15 p.m. Saturday; 1:05 p.m. Sunday
Season series: Indians have a 4-1 lead including a three-game sweep at Progressive Field last month.
