No more than a week ago, the Cleveland Indians seemed to be trending in the direction of the league’s sellers heading into this month’s Trade Deadline. They were 10 games out of first place and six games under .500. Even worse, they dropped every series last week and ended the nightmare stretch with a three-game sweep at the hands of the Orioles.
After winning last night’s extended affair in Pittsburgh, the Tribe has now rattled off five consecutive wins. They sit eight games behind the Kansas City Royals for the division and just 3.5 games off the Wild Card lead.