MLB PLAYER NEWS

Kluber blossoming into one of the league’s top pitchers

The Sports Xchange

September 17, 2014 at 4:13 am.

Kluber added to his career high with his 16th win and delivered another strong start, something few could have predicted given his 13-10 career mark prior to this season. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

HOUSTON — The odds are slim that Indians right-hander Corey Kluber can do enough over his final few starts to overcome the momentum generated by Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez and White Sox left-hander Chris Sale in the chase for the American League Cy Young Award, but that certainly won’t stop Kluber from trying his hardest.

Kluber struck out a career-high 14 batters in the Indians’ 4-2 win over the Astros Tuesday night, his ninth double-digit strikeout performance of the season. He moved past Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer and into second place in the AL in strikeouts, his 244 strikeouts trailing only Tigers left-hander David Price (250). He added to his career high with his 16th win and delivered another strong start, something few could have predicted given his 13-10 career mark prior to this season.

“To have the success that he’s had and been one of the best pitchers in the American League is difficult to forecast at any time but he has those attributes,” Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. “He has good stuff, he’s a very good competitor, a good worker, and then this year is him putting all of those things together and being consistent from Day 1 until now.”

Kluber entered his 32nd start leading AL pitchers in WAR (6.0) and ranked second in FIP (2.55), fourth in strikeout rate (26.8 percent) and innings (212 2/3) and sixth in WHIP (1.10). He has been largely anonymous in his dominance, but for the aware, his numbers are impossible to ignore.

“He’s had these starts all year, not maybe 14 strikeouts, but he’s been one of the better pitchers in the league all year,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “I think he probably tires of people questioning his durability or if he’s getting tired. He’s a pro. He’s getting better.”

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