CLEVELAND INDIANS

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Starting rotation should be strong again

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Presumably, they will all be ready to pitch the first week of the season. Right now, Cleveland’s loaded starting rotation is in limbo.

With the March 28 opener at Minnesota drawing near, manager Terry Francona has yet to say who he will start against the Twins or how he will configure his starters in the early stages of the season.

There is a lot to consider.

Potential trades involving two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber and All-Star Trevor Bauer never materialized this winter, leaving the lndians with an arsenal of right-handers, including Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger and Shane Bieber. The strength of the rotation is one reason the Indians are predicted to win the AL Central for the fourth consecutive year.

Francona and pitching coach Carl Willis are evaluating how to seize momentum in April by lining up the pitchers in the most efficient early season order.

One factor is recognizing that only Bauer will have pitched enough in spring training to build up the arm strength to go longer.

“We want to keep Trevor in between Carrasco and Kluber, the reason being, for early in the season, Trevor is the one guy situated to probably go deeper in the games,” Francona said of Bauer, who went 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA in 28 starts last season. “Staffs are never quite stretched out when the season starts, so Trevor is the one guy (stretched out). So, we want to keep him in between, so we don’t tax our bullpen.”

Bauer, a proponent of frequent throwing, along with long toss and weighted ball use, has started three Cactus League games, completing 11 innings, including extensive experimentation on his new changeup.

Bieber, in his first major league camp, has made two starts, for five innings.

Clevinger pitched for the first time on Wednesday and Carrasco and Kluber will make their Cactus League debuts today and Monday.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Chisenhall prepared to move around field

BRADENTON, Fla.

Lonnie Chisenhall knows his new gig as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting right fielder is likely temporary.

Gregory Polanco is recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and the Pirates say he will be out until sometime between mid-April and mid-June. Chisenhall was signed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract in the offseason to serve as the fill-in.

The Pirates feel Chisenhall can be a valuable option off the bench once Polanco is healthy. He began his major league career with the Cleveland Indians as a third baseman and is also capable of playing first base as well as the three outfield positions.

It will mark the first time in Chisenhall’s nine years in the majors that he will be a bench player.

“Versatility is the way the game is trending now,” Chisenhall said. “Guys need to play multiple positions. You have to be able to affect the game in different areas. I’m just trying to stay the course.

“You have to be open-minded and willing to grow. I needed to change and make myself more versatile. It’s something I pride myself in. It’s a lot of extra work. But there is always room to grow.”

Chisenhall had spent his entire professional career in the Indians’ organization since being their first-round draft pick in 2008. The Pirates selected Chisenhall in the 11th round two years earlier following his senior year of high school in Morehead City, North Carolina, but he opted to attend the University of South Carolina.

Not surprisingly, spring training has been a bit of an adjustment period for him.

“You can do all the handshakes and meet-and-greets you want during spring training but until you’re in a game during the regular season, that’s when you get to know the players,” Chisenhall said. “I’m trying to accelerate that.”

This also marks Chisenhall’s first spring training in Florida. When it was mentioned that the travel is much easier to teams in Arizona, Chisenhall smiled.

“I like to fish so I’ve enjoyed Florida,” Chisenhall said. “It’s hard to go fishing in Arizona.”

Chisenahall is hoping to stay healthy this season. Last year, he was limited to 29 games because of injuries to both calves.

“My goal this season is just to be on the field,” Chisenhall said.

Associated Press