Having lost eight of their last 11 games, including two of three in a weekend series in Minnesota, the Indians had a scheduled off-day Monday. They will begin a three-game series in Kansas City Tuesday and they can only hope that their offense shows up.
In losing the last two games of the Minnesota series, the Indians scored a total of just one run. The team's offensive slump, which has existed virtually since the start of the season, has swallowed up almost every hitter, with the exception of catcher Victor Martinez. The biggest trouble spots are the left-field platoon of David Dellucci and Jason Michaels, right fielder Franklin Gutierrez, third baseman Casey Blake, and second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera.
The Indians are last in the American League with a team batting average of .235. They are at or near the bottom in most of the major offensive categories.
Ironically, the hitting has gotten even worse at a time when their pitching has started to improve. Paul Byrd, who had two disastrous outings in his first two starts, has only allowed one run in 13 innings in his last two starts, but hasn't won either game.
Cliff Lee is 3-0 and his 0.40 ERA is the lowest of any starter in the majors. Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook have both pitched well. Only ace C.C. Sabathia continues to struggle.
Sabathia, 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA, will go looking for his first good start of the season when he starts the first game of the Kansas City series Tuesday night.
