Ernie Banks, the great Chicago Cubs legend, once said, “It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame. Let’s play two!”
And the Indians, after having such a good ol’ time doing the double-dip in the Bronx on Wednesday, are going to do just that (game two will start at 7 PM) against the suddenly rebuilding Tigers, who pulled off two whoppers of salary dumps yesterday.
In case you missed it (HOW?!), Justin Upton was dealt to Anaheim, strengthening the Halos’ Wild Card push. And late last night, when no one was looking, the Tigers finally pulled the trigger. After months of rumors and speculation, Justin Verlander was finally moved to Houston who is need of pitching help with Dallas Keuchel lugging an ERA over 5.00 since the All-Star break. It may have also been a strategic move of goodwill to the hurricane-ravaged coast of southeast Texas, which needs whatever you can give them right now. They’d like anything that could make them smile.
Back to the Indians. They’re hot having won seven in a row. They smell the division title. They can’t let up.
Lineups for game one are as follows:
Indians | Tigers | ||
SS
|
Francisco Lindor |
2B
|
Ian Kinsler |
CF
|
Austin Jackson |
RF
|
Alex Presley |
2B
|
Jose Ramirez |
DH
|
Miguel Cabrera |
1B
|
Edwin Encarnacion |
3B
|
Nick Castellanos |
RF
|
Carlos Santana |
LF
|
Mikie Mahtook |
DH
|
Yandy Diaz |
1B
|
Efren Navarro |
LF
|
Brandon Guyer |
C
|
James McCann |
C
|
Yan Gomes |
CF
|
JaCoby Jones |
3B
|
Giovanny Urshela |
SS
|
Jose Iglesias |
SP
|
Carlos Carrasco |
SP
|
Matthew Boyd |