And So It Begins…The Indians and Twins 2019 Game One – the Tribe Starting Nine

Today is the day Indians fans have been anxious for since the moment that the team was dispatched in three games by the Houston Astros back in October in the ALDS, losing game three in ugly fashion at Progressive Field.

It’s been an offseason of change, and one that has not put a lot of fans in a mood to be making reservations for playoff tickets for a long run come this October.

The team made some unpopular deals, shipping out the likes of catcher Yan Gomes and Edwin Encarnacion, didn’t bring back popular outfielder Michael Brantley, and the bullpen was stripped down with losing Cody Allen and Andrew Miller.

With that, the team will have a VERY different look for the 2019 campaign, one that is full of unknowns.

Add to the fact that both Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor are out with injuries to start the year, and Jose Ramirez hasn’t had an at-bat since fouling a ball off his knee on Sunday, it’s easy to be down on this team.

One hope for this first game is the fact they have a 20-game winner from a season ago on the mound, a two-time Cy Young award winner in Corey Kluber, as he will take on Twins ace Jose Berrios.

Here’s today’s starting nine for your Indians, game one of 162 in the 2019 season.

Leonys Martin CF
Jose Ramirez 3B
Tyler Naquin RF
Carlos Santana 1B
Hanley Ramirez DH
Jake Bauers LF
Roberto Perez C
Brad Miller 2B
Eric Stamets SS

Here’s the starting nine for Minnesota

Game one. #OpeningDay #MNTwinshttps://t.co/wmTONiIOWL pic.twitter.com/haEzcbOnWT

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) March 28, 2019