CLEVELAND — With a chance to clinch a third consecutive American League Central title
Lance Parrish Jersey , the Cleveland Indians will host the Detroit Tigers in the second game of a three-game series on Saturday afternoon at Progressive Field.The Indians’ magic number for clinching the division is one. Even if the Indians lose Saturday, they would clinch the title if Minnesota loses to Kansas City.With a 15-game lead over the second-place Twins, the Indians will obviously clinch the division at some point. The only question is when. This will be the fourth time the Indians have made it to the postseason in the six seasons since Terry Francona became manager in 2013.Article continues below ...“We take a lot of pride in that,” Francona said. “It’s hard to do. Not everything goes your way, but we’ve found a way to be good enough, and done it in a good way.”Whenever the Indians clinch the division, Francona said it’s a celebration worth having, no matter how big the margin.“I want our guys to enjoy it because it’s really hard,” he said. “But then you turn the page and it’s ‘What’s next?'”The Indians will likely play the Houston Astros in the Division Series, but what’s next is Saturday’s home game against the Tigers in which Cleveland right-hander Mike Clevinger will face Detroit right-hander Michael Fulmer.Clevinger (11-8, 3.16 ERA) will be making his 30th start of the season. His last start was a 6-2 loss to Toronto on Sunday in which he pitched six innings, allowing three runs and four hits
http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-omar-infante-jersey , with nine strikeouts and two walks. That is Clevinger’s only loss in his last eight starts, during which he has a 4-1 record and a 2.40 ERA.Clevinger’s last start against the Tigers was a 2-1 loss on July 28, when he pitched five innings, giving up just two runs and five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. In two starts against Detroit this year, Clevinger is 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA. He has made eight career appearances (seven starts) against the Tigers and is 4-2 with a 2.52 ERA.Fulmer (3-11, 4.56) has had a tough year. He hasn’t won a game since June 14. In nine starts since then, he is 0-6 with a 5.23 ERA.Fulmer’s last start against Cleveland came June 8. He got no decision in a 4-1 Tigers loss. In that game, Fulmer pitched seven innings, allowing one run and five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.In two starts against the Indians this year, Fulmer is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA. In seven career starts against Cleveland, he is 2-3 with a 6.11 ERA. In five career starts at Progressive Field, Fulmer is 2-3 with a 7.20 ERA.The Tigers won the first game of the series Friday night
http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-travis-wood-jersey , snapping their four-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory that also halted their 10-game losing streak at Progressive Field.Two of Cleveland’s six hits were by third baseman Josh Donaldson, who in the sixth inning, in his first game at Progressive Field as a member of the Indians, belted his first home run in a Cleveland uniform. The Indians acquired Donaldson in a trade with Toronto on Aug. 31.Donaldson will not play in Saturday’s game as the Indians are easing him back into the lineup after he missed 3 1/2 months earlier this season with a strained calf. ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adrian Beltre wants to stay healthy and help the last-place Texas Rangers finish strong in the last month of the season. Baseball’s active career hits leader isn’t saying if it will be the last few weeks of his Hall of Fame-caliber career.“I’m not thinking about next year yet,” Beltre said Monday. “That’s going to be in the offseason.”The 39-year-old third baseman has been bothered by hamstring issues throughout this season, his second year in a row going on the disabled list multiple times because of leg ailments. Beltre missed 28 games during two DL stints earlier this season, and has been primarily a designated hitter in the last month.What is certain is that Beltre will finish this season, his 21st in the majors, with the Rangers after the deadline passed Friday for players to join other teams and be eligible for postseason play.While Beltre’s only World Series appearance came in 2011, his first season with the Rangers, he has never been eager to leave Texas.“I’ve been here eight years. Like I’ve said before
Jordan Zimmermann Jersey , the only way it was going to happen — me going somewhere — is if it made sense for both parties: me and the team,” Beltre said. “Obviously, they understand that for me, it’s always been important to have a chance to win the World Series. If something comes up, let me know, if it makes sense for them and (me). Obviously, it didn’t make sense for both of us.”Beltre and general manager Jon Daniels both acknowledged, without elaborating, that there was at least some discussion about a potential move last week.“There was a situation last week that presented itself. We talked about it with Adrian,” Daniels said. “It wasn’t, for a number of reasons, it just wasn’t the right fit. Mutually kind of decided.”Beltre went into Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels with 3
Jose Iglesias Jersey ,144 career hits and 470 home runs. He was the DH for the ninth time in his last 10 starts, but said he was “close to 100 percent” and expected to play third base on Tuesday.A four-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner, Beltre has indicated that if he plays another season he wants to finish his career with the Rangers. This is the last year of his contract.“He’s said he doesn’t know what he’s going to do next year, if he’s going to play or not, and if he wanted to push and push for the trade, we would’ve honored that,” Daniels said. “For him not to have done so says a lot, how he feels about his teammates and the fans in particular. That piece of it, I’m in awe of.”
