The Indians were 5-2 last week as they outscored their opponents 43-30.  The Indians were ripping the ball all of last week.  The Indians entered this week with a 31-17 record which had them in first place in the American League Central, 2.5 games ahead of the Tigers.

According to Baseball America, 21 year old lefty Chuck Lofgren is their 2nd best prospect and he’s off to a decent start.  In 9 starts this season in AA ball, Lofgren is 4-3 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP so far.  In 50.1 innings, he’s allowed 47 hits, walked 21 batters and whiffed 51.  Lofgren has a good arm and the Indians will take it slowly with him as they are deep in starting pitching.

If Fausto Carmona keeps pitching like he is now, he should keep his job in the starting rotation when Jake Westbrook returns from injury.  In 8 starts (1 shutout in which he defeated Johan Santana), he is 5-1 with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP so far this season.  In 55.1 innings, Carmona has allowed 51 hits, walked 15 batters and whiffed 20.  Carmona has been a pleasant surprise so far this season for the Indians and he’s one of the main reasons why the Tribe is doing so well this season.  He always has had electric stuff and now he’s learning how to use it.

The Cleveland Indians should seriously consider sending Jeremy Sowers to the minors if he doesn’t straighten out soon.  In his first 8 starts of the season, Sowers is 0-4 with a 7.13 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP so far.  In 41.2 innings, he has allowed 53 hits, 5 homers, hit 4 batters, walked 15 and only whiffed 12.  Sowers has below average major league stuff and he has been getting hit really hard. 

The Indians were 5-1 last week as they outscored their oppenents 43-25.  The Indians really swung the bats well last week and that paid off for them big time!  The Indians entered this week with a 26-15 record which had them tied for first place with the Detroit Tigers, 4.5 games ahead of the White Sox.