Reason #3 Why the 2016 Cleveland Indians Will Rock: Carlos Carrasco

Opening Day is just three days away. The weather might be crappy, but nothing is going to bring Tribe fans down with baseball right around the corner. Of Carnegie and Ontario.

Here’s reason #3 why the Tribe will rock in 2016:

Carlos Carrasco

Carrasco is just 29 years old, in the prime of his career, and 2015 was a great season for the right-hander.

Carrasco went 14-12 with a 3.63 ERA in 30 starts last season, striking out 216 batters in 183 innnings pitched.

There was some discussion of Carrasco being traded in the offseason, potentially to become an ace of the Toronto Blue Jays’ staff, but thankfully Tribe fans will see him at Progressive Field again this year.

The fact that Carrasco is the number two pitcher in the rotation, but could be the ace on many teams around the league is indicative of how great this rotation is from top to bottom.

Something to consider about Carrasco’s history is that it took a move to the bullpen for him to figure some things out and become a top notch pitcher in all of baseball.

Maybe the Tribe’s coaching staff, including Manager Terry Francona and Pitching Coach Mickey Calloway, see something similar with young hard-throwing Trevor Bauer, who will start the season in the bullpen in 2016.

Whatever Carrasco learned or figured out in the bullpen, let’s hope it sticks with him in 2016 because his stuff is flat out nasty and he instills fear in opposing batters.

He flirted with no-hitters in 2015, coming just an out away from shutting down the Tampa Bay Rays, and it won’t be a surprise if he has similar outings this season.

Carrasco is a huge reason why the Tribe can be considered a contender in the American League playoff race.

Having a second ace available every five days is a luxury that few teams can claim.