Despite there being just four months left of the MLB season, Indian fans still have plenty to look forward to. While they had an incredibly difficult start to the season in April, the Indians still have a lot of potential to reach the top and win the league. With a number of big events coming up on the calendar and a number of players looking to make their mark on the team, we’re taking a look at what fans can look forward to throughout the rest of the 2018 season.
New York Yankees
On July 12, the Tribe are set to take on the New York Yankees in a four-game homestand which can see two of the league’s powerhouses take on each other, at the exact time when the playoff picture will begin to take shape. This will be a fantastic opportunity for the Indians to get revenge against the Yankees, as the New York team bounced back from being 2-0 down to beat the Indians in the AL Division Series in 2017. This time, the Indians will be on home soil. This is certain to be a key point in the schedule for the Indians and will occur at a truly significant time for the team.
The Rise Of Bieber
Shane Bieber has been a prominent figure for the Indians in recent months, and fans should be excited to see how this particular player can progress. In June alone, Bieber impressed the fans as he went out in a high-pressure environment against the Cardinals and became a strike-throwing master. He struck Matt Carpenter out and continued to dominate the game with a hugely impressive 4/27 walk-to-strikeout ratio. At just 23 years old, Bieber is set to be a key player for the Indians. However, both Bieber and fellow player Adam Plutko will be competing for the fifth rotation spot, and fans should hope to see Bieber in this role instead of returning to the bullpen or back to Triple-A. If the team make the right decision, we could see Bieber in this role for many years to come.
A Claw Back
The Indians were favourites to be atop the division before the season started, but they have fallen short of expectations slightly as the season has progressed. While they are still favourites to win, the rough start is likely to lead to an impressive claw back from the team throughout the remainder of the 2018 season. For fans, it is important to remember that Cleveland offer an incredible offense – one of the best in major league baseball. With an excellent starting rotation, the Indians actually have a team with the potential to compete in World Series, which is often referred to as the most prestigious and biggest event in baseball, despite their current standings in the lowest league in baseball. The remainder of the 2018 series could see a significant claw back from the team, who will be looking to win more and more games.
The Hot Prospect
Stepping away from the main Cleveland Indians MLB team, fans can start to become more excited about the state of their prospects in Triple-A. One of the key players in the league is Francisco Mejia, who is currently ranked at number 17 in the MLB’s top 100 prospect list. This particular player has already performed well in Columbus this year, resulting in him making the September call-up. Fans should keep a close eye on him throughout the rest of the season to see how he continues to progress, as with the opportunity to play both catcher and OF, his versatility is one to be reckoned with.
Could deGrom Join The Roster?
With the trade deadline approaching teams across the league are being attached to players who they may have nothing to do with, or may in fact genuinely be interested in. One such player for the Indians is the Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom. deGrom is a coveted player, and this trade could be an interesting one for the team to make. The idea originated from Mark DeRosa but would this move actually make sense for the team? Firstly, the Indians do have some players that they can move around, with Francisco Mejia being one of them.
The likes of Triston McKenzie and Bradley Zimmer could also become moveable options for the team if they were genuinely interested in going after deGrom. Almost any team would benefit from having deGrom in their rotation and with the Mets being willing to listen to offers, there is a lot of potential for a move to happen. However, the team’s rotation is already crowded could this be a move that works in their favour? While the bullpen may be the top priority for now, deGrom could be a promising addition to the rotation.
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