Corey Kluber was hit hard in his start against the Tigers on Labor Day. (Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports)
CLEVELAND — It’s difficult to say which was more surprising, the score of the Indians’ loss to the Tigers Monday, or the Indians’ starting pitcher. The Indians, who led the major leagues with a 2.39 ERA in the month of August, gave up 20 hits and 12 runs in a 12-1 loss to the Tigers.
Equally shocking was that the Indians’ starting pitcher was their ace, right-hander Corey Kluber. Kluber, who has been one of the top pitchers in the American League and a Cy Young Award candidate, gave up five runs on seven hits in a season-low 2 2/3 innings.
Kluber’s record is now 13-9, with a 2.72 ERA, which is very good. What’s not so good, however, is the Indians have lost the last three games Kluber has started, which is not a good trend for a contender that is counting on its ace to win the big games that will be played in September.
After an eight-game stretch in which he was 6-0 with a 1.31 ERA, Kluber in his last three starts, is 0-3 with a 6.19 ERA. Monday he gave up three home runs in the span of 12 batters after giving up just one home run over the last 241 batters he had faced.
Indians manager Terry Francona said he does not think Kluber is in a slump, and Kluber said he is fine physically. But the last thing the Indians need as they attempt to catch Kansas City and Detroit in the Central Division race are less than Kluber-caliber starts in the month of September.
