28-year old righty reliever Justin Germano came into this season with a 8-16 record, a 5.27 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP in 47 career games (35 starts) in the majors. So the skeptics have been out on Germano for quite a while now. But, he’s off to a great start with the Cleveland Indians. He has pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Tribe so far and he is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.68 WHIP. He has only given up 6 hits in 14 2/3 innings this season for the Indians while whiffing 11 batters. Germano is certainly making a good first impression with the Tribe and here’s to hoping he can keep up the good work.

26-year old righty starting pitcher Fausto Carmona will make his first All-Star appearance for the Indians. He is likely making the team because of Shin-Soo Choo’s recent injury. Carmona has started 16 games for the Tribe this season and he is 7-7 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He has tightened up his control and batters are only hitting .248 against him this season. Incidentally, in 2007 batters also hit only .248 against Carmona. In 2007, Carmona started 32 games for the Tribe and he was 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. It’s quite a shock that Carmona is pitching this well based on how poorly he pitched in 2008 and 2009. In those two years, Carmoma pitched in 46 games (all starts) in which he was 13-19 with a 5.89 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Give manager Manny Acta and pitching coach Tim Belcher a lot of credit for getting Carmona back on the right track.

26-year old righty starting pitcher Mitch Talbot has been a godsend for the Indians this season. He has started 15 games for the Indians this season and he is 8-6 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The Indians’ scouts did a good job suggesting Talbot to GM Mark Shapiro as he reminds me a lot of Jake Westbrook. Coming into this season Talbot’s only major league experience came in 2008 with the Rays in which he pitched in 3 games (1 start) in which he was 0-0 with a 11.17 ERA and a 2.79 WHIP. Talbot is leading the Indians in wins right now and unless Jake Westbrook or Fausto Carmona get hot I see him leading the team at the end of the year.

26-year old righty starting pitcher Mitch Talbot came to the Indians over the winter in the trade that sent Kelly Shoppach to the Rays. It has worked out really well for the Indians. Talbot has started 9 games for the Indians this season and he is 6-3 with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He has only given up 53 hits in 60 1/3 innings this season but I think that is going to change soon because he doesn’t miss a lot of bats (only 24 whiffs). Talbot also need to tighten up his control a bit to remain effective as he has walked 24 batters already this year. Still that stuff is nitpicking as the bottom line is that the Indians are very happy with how Talbot is pitching right now and they hope he can keep up the good work.

25-year old lefty starting pitcher David Huff led the Indians in wins last season and it looks like he wants to do it again based on his pitching so far this year. Huff has started 2 games this season for the Indians and he is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. He is coming right after hitters as he has only walked 3 hitters in 15 innings while allowing 10 hits. Huff won’t likely maintain a great ERA being so aggressive in the strike zone as he doesn’t have swing and miss stuff. Still, the Indians have to feel really good about how well Huff is throwing the ball right now.