DETROIT: The first-place Indians have the best rotation in the American League, a collection of met potential and depth that no other team from the junior circuit can currently match.
Entering Friday’s game in Detroit, Indians starters were second in ERA (3.69), first in fielding independent pitching (FIP) (3.79), second in strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) (8.28) and first in wins above replacement (WAR) (7.6) by a full run, per FanGraphs.
Corey Kluber (7-7, 3.59) has been somewhat inconsistent but has sprinkled in a couple of dominant starts. Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 3.26 ERA) recently returned from a strained left hamstring and is healthy again.